Information processing apparatus and information processing system

ABSTRACT

When an acquisition unit acquires image data of a game being played on another information processing apparatus, a display processing unit displays, using the acquired image data, an image of game play. A participation processing unit allows a user to join the game being played on the other information processing apparatus, and a transmission unit transmits operation information from the user to the other information processing apparatus. When the acquisition unit acquires image data in which the transmitted operation information is reflected in the progress of the game in the other information processing apparatus, the display processing unit displays, using the image data, an image of game play in which the operation information is reflected.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing technologyand, more particularly, to a technology for processing content such asgames.

BACKGROUND ART

A mechanism has been set up that allows game devices to download gamesoftware from servers on the Internet and that allows multiple users toenjoy games together via the Internet. In recent years, portable gamedevices and tablet terminal apparatuses have become equipped withcommunication functions, and multi-functionalization of mobile phoneshas been developed. With communication functions, portable electronicdevices allow the users to connect the electronic devices to theInternet also on the outdoors so as to acquire various types ofinformation.

-   [Patent document No. 1] U.S. Pat. No. 7,558,820

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

The Internet connects users from all around the world without nationalborders and provides opportunities to get to know various types ofpeople through games. Under such an environment, the emergence of amechanism is desired that allows even more people to become effectivelyconnected to one another and that can also provide entertainment. Such anew mechanism is also preferably provided for other applications besidesgames.

Means to Solve the Problem

An information processing system according to one embodiment of thepresent invention is an information processing system in which a firstinformation processing apparatus operated by a first user and a secondinformation processing apparatus operated by a second user are connectedvia a network, wherein the first information processing apparatusincludes: an execution unit configured to execute game software based onoperation information from the first user; and a first transmission unitconfigured to transmit image data of a game being played by the firstuser to the second information processing apparatus. The secondinformation processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unitconfigured to acquire the image data; a display processing unitconfigured to display an image of game play using the acquired imagedata; a participation processing unit configured to allow the seconduser to join the game being played on the first information processingapparatus; and a second transmission unit configured to transmitoperation information from the second user to the first informationprocessing apparatus. In the first information processing apparatus, theexecution unit executes the game software based on the operationinformation from the second user, and the first transmission unittransmits image data in which the operation information from the seconduser is reflected in the progress of the game to the second informationprocessing apparatus. The display processing unit displays, using theimage data, the image of game play in which the operation informationfrom the second user is reflected in the second information processingapparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to an informationprocessing apparatus. The apparatus is an information processingapparatus operated by a user and includes: an acquisition unitconfigured to acquire image data of a game being played on anotherinformation processing apparatus; a display processing unit configuredto display an image of game play using the acquired image data; aparticipation processing unit configured to allow the user to join thegame being played on the other information processing apparatus; and atransmission unit configured to transmit operation information from theuser to the other information processing apparatus. The acquisition unitacquires image data in which the transmitted operation information isreflected in the progress of the game in the other informationprocessing apparatus, and the display processing unit displays, usingthe image data, an image of game play in which the operation informationis reflected.

Optional combinations of the aforementioned constituting elements andimplementations of the invention in the form of methods, apparatuses,systems, recording mediums, and computer programs may also be practicedas additional modes of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of aninformation processing system according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the front surface of a firstinformation processing apparatus, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustratingthe rear surface of the first information processing apparatus;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the upper surface of the firstinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the bottom surface of the firstinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating the left side surface of the firstinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the firstinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a usage environment of a secondinformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the exterior configuration of an inputapparatus;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the second informationprocessing apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining a flow of content downloading in theinformation processing system;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a content image displayed on a displayapparatus of the first information processing apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a link button displayed on the displayapparatus;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a content acquisition screen imagedisplayed on the display apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks for transmitting acontent acquisition request in the first information processingapparatus;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a server;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of thesecond information processing apparatus for downloading and thenexecuting content;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen imagedisplayed in the second information processing apparatus;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a list screen image of a downloadedgame;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a list of games that can be played;

FIG. 18 is a diagram explaining a participation function of the user inthe information processing system;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a game video image that is output to adisplay apparatus from a second information processing apparatus of auser B;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a secondinformation processing apparatus of a user A;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the secondinformation processing apparatus of the user B;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a game video image that is output to adisplay apparatus from the second information processing apparatus ofthe user A;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a game image displayed on a displayapparatus of the user A and on a display apparatus of the user B;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a server;

FIG. 25 is an example of profile information generated by the profilegeneration unit 234; and

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for starting agame.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of an informationprocessing system 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. In theinformation processing system 1, first information processingapparatuses 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c are portable terminal apparatuses, andsecond information processing apparatuses 100 a, 100 b, and 100 c areconsole terminal apparatuses. The first information processing apparatus10 a and the second information processing apparatus 100 a are terminalapparatuses that are operated by a user A. The first informationprocessing apparatus 10 b and the second information processingapparatus 100 b are terminal apparatuses that are operated by a user B.The first information processing apparatus 10 c and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 c are terminal apparatuses that areoperated by a user C.

An AP (Access Point) 2 has functions of a wireless access point and arouter and is placed indoors. An AP 2 a is placed in a house of the userA, and the first information processing apparatus 10 a and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a become connected to a network 3such as the Internet via the AP 2 a, a modem (not shown), or the like.An AP 2 b is placed in a house of the user B, and the first informationprocessing apparatus 10 b and the second information processingapparatus 100 b become connected to the network 3 via the AP 2 b, amodem, or the like. An AP 2 c is placed in a house of the user C, andthe first information processing apparatus 10 c and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 c become connected to the network 3via the AP 2 c, a modem, or the like.

Hereinafter, the first information processing apparatuses 10 a, 10 b,and 10 c are referred to as “first information processing apparatuses10” when the first information processing apparatuses are not to bedistinguished from one another, and the second information processingapparatuses 100 a, 100 b, and 100 c are referred to as “secondinformation processing apparatuses 100” when the second informationprocessing apparatuses are not to be distinguished from one another.

A first information processing apparatus 10 has a communication functionin a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) method and becomes connected tothe AP 2 via a wireless LAN. The first information processing apparatus10 may become connected to the AP 2 via a cable indoors. The firstinformation processing apparatus 10 has a communication function in amethod employed for mobile phones of the third generation mobilecommunication system or the like and can be connected to the network 3via a mobile phone network. This allows the first information processingapparatus 10 to become connected to the network 3 via a base stationwith a wide-range communication area. Thus, the user can use the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 also on the outdoors. In the presentexemplary embodiment, a first information processing apparatus 10 is aportable terminal apparatus and is preferably usable by the user also onthe outdoors. However, the first information processing apparatus may bea console terminal apparatus when achieving some functions that will bedescribed later in the information processing system 1.

A second information processing apparatus 100 becomes connected to theAP 2 via a cable 14. The second information processing apparatus 100 maybe connected to the AP 2 via a wireless LAN. The second informationprocessing apparatus 100 is a console terminal apparatus in the presentexemplary embodiment. Alternatively, the second information processingapparatus 100 may be a portable terminal apparatus.

A server 5 has a plurality of functions in the present exemplaryembodiment. As one of the functions, the server 5 provides a networkservice to a user of the information processing system 1. The server 5manages user accounts (network accounts) for identifying users on thenetwork, and users sign in to a network service provided by the server 5using respective user accounts. The first information processingapparatus 10 and the second information processing apparatus 100 sign into the network service so as to upload image data to the server 5 and/ordownload image data from the server 5. In the information processingsystem 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, a plurality ofusers can join an online game. The server 5 may function as a gameserver that manages a game session.

The server 5 functions as a content server that delivers content such asgame software to the second information processing apparatus 100. Theserver 5 delivers content upon the receipt of an explicit request fromthe user. Alternatively, the server 5 may select content and thendeliver the content. When the server 5 delivers content upon the receiptof an explicit request from the user, the content is generally subjectto fees, and the server 5 performs content delivery processing as wellas billing processing.

The server 5 functions as a game server or a content server. In FIG. 1,the server 5 is expressed as a server in which these functions areintegrated. Therefore, the server 5 may be physically formed with aplurality of servers. In this case, IP addresses on the network may beseparately assigned.

In the information processing system 1, first information processingapparatuses 10 and second information processing apparatuses 100 areconnected such that the first information processing apparatuses 10 andthe second information processing apparatuses 100 can transmit and/orreceive data with one another via the server 5. More specifically, thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a and the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a owned by the user A, the first informationprocessing apparatus 10 b and the second information processingapparatus 100 b owned by the user B, and the first informationprocessing apparatus 10 c and the second information processingapparatus 100 c owned by the user C, can transmit and/or receive datawith one another via the server 5.

The first information processing apparatus 10 a and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a owned by the user A, the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 b and the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b owned by the user B, and the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 c and the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 c owned by the user C, may directly transmitand/or receive data with one another (without going through the server5). For example, while the user B is playing a game using the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b, the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b can directly deliver, by streaming, motionvideo image data of game play to the information processing apparatusesof the user A and the user C. A first information processing apparatus10 and a second information processing apparatus 100 of the same usermay transmit and/or receive data via an AP 2 or may transmit and/orreceive data directly via a wireless LAN.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a first information processingapparatus 10 is a portable game device, and a second informationprocessing apparatus 100 is a game console. The first informationprocessing apparatus 10 a and the second information processingapparatus 100 a are operated by the user A and each transmit and/orreceive data with the server 5 and with other information processingapparatuses using a user account (network account) identifying the userA. Similarly, the first information processing apparatus 10 b and thesecond information processing apparatus 100 b each transmit and/orreceive data with the server 5 and with other information processingapparatuses using a network account identifying the user B, and thefirst information processing apparatus 10 c and the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 c each transmit and/or receive data with theserver 5 and with other information processing apparatuses using anetwork account identifying the user C.

In the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, the informationprocessing apparatuses of the three users are shown. However, in theactual environment, information processing apparatuses of uncountableusers from all over the world are connected to the network 3. The numberof information processing apparatuses operated by each user is notlimited to two and may be more than two.

A use case of the information processing system 1 by the user A, who isa company employee, is shown in the following. The user A wakes up inthe morning, eats breakfast, and then goes to work carrying the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a. The user A works at a companyduring the day, comes back home at night, plays a game using the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a, and then goes to sleep. A roughimage is as follows: the user A makes preparations using the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a when he/she is outside (outdoortime) in order to enjoy content after he/she comes back home, and, e.g.,plays an online game with his/her friend(s) using the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a when he/she is indoors (indoor time) aftercoming back home. The user A may play a game using the first informationprocessing apparatus 10 a during indoor time. Alternatively, the user Amay use the first information processing apparatus 10 a as asupplementary tool during game play using the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a. In the information processing system 1, suchbehaviors of the user A are simulated as one use case. Depending on alife style of the user A, the information processing system 1 may beused in different variations.

<Use Case During Outdoor Time>

During outdoor time, the user A is watching live video images of a gameX being played by the user B. During this time, the live video imagesare delivered by streaming to the first information processing apparatus10 a of the user A from the second information processing apparatus 100b of the user B. It is assumed that the user A does not possess the gameX. If the user A considers that the game X is interesting and desires topurchase the game X after watching the game play of the user B, the userA purchases the game X by pressing a purchase button displayed inassociation with the live video images of the game X on the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a. Upon the receipt of a request forpurchasing the game X from the first information processing apparatus 10a, the server 5 transmits software of the game X to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a. The second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a automatically downloads the software of thegame X. Therefore, a situation can be created where the software of thegame X has already been downloaded onto the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a by the time the user A comes back home.During the outdoor time, the second information processing apparatus 100a is in a sleep state where the second information processing apparatus100 a monitors for an instruction from the server 5. Upon the receipt ofan instruction from the server 5, the second information processingapparatus 100 a turns the main power on so as to operate to downloadgame software from the server 5. Upon completion of the downloading, thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a may return to the sleepstate again.

The user A may view play motion video of the game X that has been playedby the user B or another user in the past. Play motion video of the pastare stored in the server 5, and the first information processingapparatus 10 a of the user A accesses the server 5 and acquires playmotion video. Play motion video of other users are, e.g., motion videoof perfect play of a master class, and the user A can increasemotivation to play the game X by watching other user's play motionvideo. In this case, a purchase button is also displayed on the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a, and the server 5 transmits thesoftware of the game X to the second information processing apparatus100 a upon the pressing of the purchase button by the user A. Asdescribed, by mapping an action of viewing live video images or pastplay motion video of the game X to an action of purchasing the game X,access to a game store (server 5) can be made easy. Thus a user-friendlycontent purchasing system can be realized.

If the user A and the user B have the same game, it is preferred tocreate an environment for making a schedule for having game playtogether. Thus, in the information processing system 1, the user A canschedule a time for a match for a game Y, which both users have, withthe user B. For example, the first information processing apparatus 10 aof the user A transmits an invitation for a match with a specified timefor the match to both the first information processing apparatus 10 band the second information processing apparatus 100 b of the user B, andthe match can be promised when a reply indicating acceptance is receivedfrom the user B. As described, the user can easily make a plan for aftercoming back home when the user A is outside, and the user A can play amatch for the game Y with the user B at a promised time after comingback home.

Regardless of whether it is an outdoor time or an indoor time, theserver 5 can autonomously provide various types of information to thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a. The information to beprovided may be the most popular game title in the world ordemonstration motion video of such a game. Friends of the user A cangive presents to the user A. An example of the presents is gamesoftware, and the server 5 transmits game software to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a upon the receipt of aninstruction for giving the present to the user A from a friend. Asdescribed, the server 5 transmits information to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a so that the second information processingapparatus 100 a presents various types of information to the user A.

<Use Case During Indoor Time>

After coming back home, the user A turns on the main power of the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a. A camera is connected to thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a, and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a identifies (authenticate) theuser A upon receiving an image captured by the camera. When the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a identifies the user A, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a logs in using an account (localaccount) of the identified user A and automatically signs in to anetwork service provided by the server 5 using the network account. Whenthe second information processing apparatus 100 a is started, a menuscreen image is displayed first. A local account is a user account thatis registered in the second information processing apparatus 100 touniquely identify the user.

The menu screen image displays the latest information transmitted to theuser A, the information on content that is automatically downloaded, andthe like. The user A can open a list screen image of downloaded contentfrom the menu screen image. The list screen image includes an icon ofthe game X that has been purchased by the user A through the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a and that has been automaticallydownloaded onto the second information processing apparatus 100 a, anicon of a game demo provided from the server 5, and the like. When theuser A selects the icon of the game X, the software of the game X isinstalled such that the game X can be played. As described, the softwareof the game X is automatically downloaded during the outdoor time of theuser A in the information processing system 1. Thus, the user A can playthe game without downloading the software of the game X after comingback home. When the user A instructs to purchase the game X through thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a, the first informationprocessing apparatus 10 a may instruct the second information processingapparatus 100 a to automatically start the game X when the power isturned on. In this case, when the main power is turned on, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a automatically installs thedownloaded software of the game X and also automatically starts thesoftware of the game X. Therefore, the user can play the game X just byturning the main power on.

The menu screen image also displays the information on the schedulepromised to the user B during the outdoor time. With this, the user Acan remember the promise made to the user B by viewing the menu screenimage. An example has been shown where the user A voluntarily asks theuser B for a match. However, the server 5 may select an opponentcandidate on its own by analyzing the tendency of play or the like ofthe user A and transmit the information on the opponent candidate to thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a in advance, and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a may display the information onthe menu screen image. The user A transmits an invitation for a matchwith a specified time for the match to the opponent candidate selectedby the server 5, and the match can be promised when a reply indicatingacceptance is received from the opponent candidate. If the opponentcandidate has already transmitted an invitation for a match to the userA, the menu screen image indicates that there is a notice for theinvitation for the match, and the user A can promise the match to theopponent candidate by sending a reply indicating acceptance.

As described, when a match is promised between the users, the respectivesecond information processing apparatuses 100 of the users registerscheduling information thereof. At a scheduled time, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a automatically starts the game andconnects to the second information processing apparatus 100 of theopponent so as to create an environment for the match. If theenvironment for the match cannot be created, e.g., if the main power ofthe second information processing apparatus 100 of the opponent cannotbe turned on, thus failing to get a connection, the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a may notify the server 5 accordingly. Theserver 5 notifies the first information processing apparatus 10 of theopponent of a message reminding the opponent of the promised match atthis time. If the user A is playing another game at a time for thematch, the second information processing apparatus 100 a may display amessage indicating that it is a time for the match.

The menu screen image also displays information indicating that amessage has been transmitted from a friend. This corresponds to a mailerfunction, and audio or image messages can be transmitted from a friendas well as text messages.

In the second information processing apparatus 100 a, respective useraccounts of friends of the user A are registered. Friends to beregistered include acquaintances in the real world and friends the userA has become acquainted with through the information processing system1. The second information processing apparatus 100 a acquires activitiesincluding status information on registered friends from the server 5,and the user A can view a list of activities of each friend. Theactivities include information indicating whether or not the friend isbeing connected to the network 3, a game title being played by thefriend, and the like. The user A can check the status of a friend byviewing his/her activities. For example, the user A can learn that theuser C has not yet turned on the power of the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 c and that the user B has already startedplaying the game. Registration of respective accounts of friends of theuser A may be performed only on the server 5. When the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a requests the server 5 foractivities of the friends, the server 5 may transmit an activity list ofthe friends of the user A to the second information processing apparatus100 a.

When the user A selects one friend from the activity list in the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a, the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a transmits information identifying theselected friend to the server 5, and the server 5 returns activityinformation including detailed status information of the friend to thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a. The server 5 alsoincludes, in the activity information, an IP address of a secondinformation processing apparatus 100 of the friend at this time so as tosend a reply. With this, the user A can view the detailed activities ofthe friend. The user A can watch live streaming of ongoing play by thefriend or watch play motion video of the friend of the past through anactivity detail screen image. The live streaming may be, for example,directly delivered from the second information processing apparatus 100b of the user B. When watching live video images of ongoing play,detailed metadata such as stage information may be set to be viewable sothat the user A can easily understand the status of the friend's play.

As explained regarding the outdoor time, the user A can easily purchasecontent through the first information processing apparatus 10 a of aportable type. The user A can also purchase content easily through thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a. For example, when theuser A selects a game title, a live video image, or the like included inactivities of a friend, a purchase screen image may be provided from theserver 5 and displayed on a display of the second information processingapparatus 100 a. As described, in the information processing system 1,there are many paths to a content purchase screen image that have beenprepared with ingenuity allowing the user to immediately purchasecontent the user desires to purchase.

If the data size of content is large when purchasing the content throughthe second information processing apparatus 100 a, it takes a long timefor downloading the content. Therefore, the information processingsystem 1 is designed such that, when a part of content is downloaded,the second information processing apparatus 100 a installs the part ofthe content so as to allow the user A to start executing the contentwith a short wait time. For example, if a game comprises a plurality ofstages, the server 5 first transmits software for executing a firststage to the second information processing apparatus 100 a, and thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a installs the software sothat the user A can play the first stage. While the user A is playingthe first stage, the server 5 continues to transmit software for playingsecond and subsequent stages to the second information processingapparatus 100 a so that all the stages can be played eventually. Asdescribed, by allowing software for playing the second and subsequentstages to be downloaded in the background, the user A only needs to waitfor the amount of time required for downloading the first stage. Thus, await time required until the start of the game can be shortened.

The server 5 may recommend a purchase of a game that matches thepreference of the user A in accordance with a tendency of play of theuser A. In any case, the server 5 may recommend a game that matches thepreference of the user A so as to increase the interest of the user A onthe game. The server 5 may voluntarily transmit information regarding agame recommended to be purchased to the second information processingapparatus 100 a and include the information on the menu screen image. Inany case, the server 5 can recommend a game that matches the preferenceof the user A so as to increase interest of the user A in the game.

When the user A selects an icon of a game on the menu screen image, theselected game is started, and the user A starts game play. The secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a can pause the progress of thegame when the user A presses a pause button during the game play. Forexample, when the user A is playing a game with another user, the gamemay be set such that the progress cannot be paused even when the user Apresses the pause button by invalidating the button operation.

If the pausing of a game when the pause button is pressed is allowed,the game may be paused, and a menu screen image may be displayed over agame screen image. In conventional game devices, the screen image doesnot go back to a menu screen image until the game is once ended.However, in the second information processing apparatus 100 a, thescreen image is set to go back to a menu screen image just by pausingthe game. This allows the user A to view activities of his/her friendsso as to take action such as checking the status of the friends andpurchasing a new game and quickly return to the game. The secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a may display a screen imagerelated to a game that is paused. For example, a purchase screen imageof a game related to the paused game or a screen image of a walkthroughsite of the paused game may be displayed.

A browser function may be set to be started up even when the game is notpaused so that the user A can access the walkthrough site of the game.In this case, it is preferred that a browser screen image be displayedat the edge of a display screen image in such a manner that the browserscreen image does not interfere the progress of the game so that theuser A can view a desired site while playing the game.

In the information processing system 1, a mechanism is provided whereplay motion video of a user is uploaded onto the server 5 such thatanother user can view the play motion video. Various advantages areprovided by viewing this play motion video. For example, the user canlearn what kind of game his/her friend has played in the past, and theuser can easily open a game purchase screen image. As a mechanism forrecording play motion video, the second information processing apparatus100 a records play video images for a length of a predetermined periodof time (e.g., several tens of seconds) at all times. As the recordedlength of play video images exceeds the predetermined period of time,the play video images are overwritten in the order from the old one.Therefore, the second information processing apparatus 100 a records thelatest play video images of a recorded length of the predeterminedperiod of time. For example, in a case where the user A defeats the lastboss, play video images being recorded at that moment can be saved bypressing a predetermined button (capture button) of a game controller.In this way, the video images of game play when the last boss wasdefeated are saved. Motion video data saved in this way is automaticallyuploaded onto the server 5 or directly transmitted to friends, servingto help increase interest in the game of a user viewing the motion videodata. Saved motion video data may be periodically uploaded onto theserver 5.

The user A captures motion video data in the above. Alternatively, agame may autonomously capture motion video data. An instruction forcapturing may be issued at the time when the game detects a generatedevent (e.g., a goal in a soccer game) so that scenes before and afterthe event can be recorded. Also, system software of the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a may issue an instruction forcapturing when, for example, the user A wins an award (trophy) duringthe game so as to record scenes before and after winning the trophy. Thesystem software may issue an instruction for capturing at everypredetermined period of time so as to capture play motion video at eachpredetermined period of time.

When captured play motion video is uploaded onto the server 5, privacysettings may be set for the play motion video. The privacy settings aresettings that allow only specific users to view play motion video. Forexample, the play motion video may be only viewable to friends (managedin the server 5) of the user A. Privacy settings may be different forplay motion video captured by a user and for play motion video capturedby a game or system software. The user A knows that play motion videocaptured by the user A will be uploaded. On the other hand, since playmotion video captured by a game or system software has not been capturedbased on the user's intention, the user may feel resistance in theuploading of the play motion video. Therefore, play motion videocaptured by a game or system software may be set such that the playmotion video will not be uploaded or will not be viewable even if theplay motion video is to be uploaded. It is preferred that the user A canset ON and OFF of an automatic capture function of a game or systemsoftware and that the user A can set ON and OFF of an automatic uploadfunction when the automatic capture function is ON.

In order for the user to learn various ways of enjoying a game, theserver 5 collects various types of play motion video from users all overthe world. For example, the server 5 collects play motion video ofscenes obtained when a world record is achieved or when extremelyuncommon events have occurred in a car racing game. The user can accessthe server 5 to view favorite play motion video. This leads to anincrease in the interest in the new game or to the discovery of aninteresting play style if the user already has the game.

By managing activity information among friends in advance, the server 5identifies, for example, a user who has achieved the fastest lap in acar racing game. When a certain user newly establishes the fastest lap,the server 5 may notify the user's friends, who have the car racinggame, of the establishment of the fastest lap. This provides motivationto play the car racing game to the friends and develops a sense ofcompetition among the friends, thus contributing to the enhancement ofcommunication among the friends. In particular, advantages can be alsoexpected in a case where the game is relatively old. For example, thefriends may be reminded of the game again after a long time, and thegame may become a hit again among the friends.

During game play, the user A basically progresses the game using thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a and a game controllerthereof. The information processing system 1 provides a mechanism wherethe first information processing apparatus 10 a can be also effectivelyused at this time. The user A connects the first information processingapparatus 10 a to the second information processing apparatus 100 a viathe server 5 so that the first information processing apparatus 10 arecords play video images of the second information processing apparatus100 a. For example, the user A may upload recorded play motion video toa SNS (Social Networking Service) or the like. If the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a is executing a karaoke application, the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a may be used to select a next song.A highly useful information processing system 1 can be realized by usingthe first information processing apparatus 10 a effectively bothoutdoors and indoors, as described above.

If the user A goes to the user B's house and plays a game together usingthe second information processing apparatus 100 b of the user B, thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a of the user A can beconnected to the second information processing apparatus 100 b. Thisconnection is achieved via the server 5. For example, the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a accesses the server 5 so as todisplay a friend list on the display apparatus 20 and then selects theuser B from the friend list so as to display activities of the user B.The activities display a game title the user B is currently playing withthe user A. When the user A selects to play together for the game title,the server 5 provides information such as an IP address of the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b. With this, the first informationprocessing apparatus 10 a can be directly connected to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b. The first information processingapparatus 10 a may be directly connected to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b via a wireless LAN. In this case, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b displays a dialogue askingwhether or not to connect to the first information processing apparatus10 a, and the first information processing apparatus 10 a and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b are connected if the user Baccepts the connection.

With this, the first information processing apparatus 10 a can acquirevarious types of information from the second information processingapparatus 100 b. For example, the first information processing apparatus10 a can acquire information such as a game title being played and thename of the user B from the second information processing apparatus 100b. For example, when an image of the user A and the user B playing agame together is captured by the front camera 30, the game title, thename of the user B, etc., can be included in the data of the capturedimage. Even when the above karaoke application is being played, thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a may be used as a controllerfor the second information processing apparatus 100 b. As described, thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a and the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b with different network accounts cancollaboratively operate, and a highly useful information processingsystem 1 can thus be realized.

Furthermore, the information processing system 1 can operate not onlyfor this system but also in cooperation with another game system. Forexample, game settings created in another game system can be also usedin the information processing system 1. By allowing games played ondifferent platforms to interact, as described above, the userfriendliness can be improved.

An explanation is now given of a mechanism where a plurality of usersplay a game. The plurality of users have the same game Y and can play anonline game using a second information processing apparatus 100 of anyone of the users or a game server as a host. This mode is called“multiplayer play.” For example, if the second information processingapparatus 100 b of the user B serves as a host, the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a of the user A acquires game sessioninformation (session ID) of the second information processing apparatus100 b and communicates with the second information processing apparatus100 b using the session ID. In order for the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a to become connected to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b, it is necessary to go through a procedurewhere the second information processing apparatus 100 b transmits aninvitation to the second information processing apparatus 100 a andwhere the second information processing apparatus 100 a then expressesintent for participation, or a procedure where the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a makes a participation request to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b and where the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b then accepts the participation request. If aschedule for a match has been set in advance, as described above, eitherthe second information processing apparatus 100 a or the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b may serve as a host, andprocedures for participation requests, etc., may be executed in thebackground so that the both apparatuses are automatically connected.

In the information processing system 1, the user A can view live videoimage of the user B's play on a display and make a participation requestat this time. After the user A's participation is accepted, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a starts the game Y. The amount oftime required for the activation depends on a game. It often takes atleast about several tens of seconds. In a conventional game device, astart-up screen image indicating a game title, etc., is displayed duringthe starting-up of a game. In the information processing system 1, sucha start-up screen image is not displayed (or inconspicuously displayed).Although a start-up screen image is not displayed, necessary logos andthe like may be displayed. During the activation of game software in thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a, the user B's live videoimage continues to be displayed on the display so as to create a statewhere the user A has already joined before the user A notices it, uponcompletion of the activation in the background of a game. For example,in a case where the user B is operating one of players playing fordoubles in a tennis game, by the time the user A is allowed to join uponcompletion of the start-up of the tennis game in the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a, the user A will be able to operate the otherplayer playing for the doubles in a live video image before the user Aknows it. In reality, the live video image of the user B have beenswitched to a game screen image created by the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a already by this time. By providing aninterface that allows the user A to seamlessly join the user B's game asdescribed above, the user A can be offered a feeling of already being inthe game by the time the user A noticed it, without getting bored whilespending time required for the activation of the game.

When starting the game in the second information processing apparatus100 a, a start-up screen image by the game and live video image of theuser B provided by the system software may be displayed concurrently. Ina scene where a logo that needs to be displayed on the start-up screenimage appears, the game may notify the system software of the timing ofthe appearance, and the start-up screen image may be displayed whilehiding the live video image in the scene. The system software mayacquire file information of the logo that needs to be displayed from thegame, and the system software may display the logo. When concurrentlydisplaying the start-up screen image and the live video image of theuser B, the screen may be separated into top and bottom portions orright and left portions so as to display the images. Alternatively, theimages may be composed to be translucent for display.

There are also games that only allow participation at a break betweenstages. Even in this case, an environment can be created where the userA can join immediately when the progress of the game made by the user Bcomes to a break between stages, by starting the game Y in thebackground by the second information processing apparatus 100 a whilethe user A is watching the user B′ play. The second informationprocessing apparatus 100 may have an AV player capable of reproducing avideo image so as to be able to reproduce content such as a movie, e.g.,before the participation is allowed.

The second information processing apparatus 100 b that serves as a hostoffers a forum for having a review session when multiplayer play isended. The second information processing apparatus 100 b acquires 3Dgraphic data, information such as the locus of a player, and game data(including game controller operation information) for the multiplayerplay from the game and provides a replay screen image and the like toparticipant users. Such a replay screen image is provided to all theparticipant users so that the participant users can concurrently viewthe replay screen image. The second information processing apparatus 100b serves as a host for a chat and allows a text chat, a video chat, orthe like to be conducted among the participant users at this time. Byallowing a game screen image to be also reproduced from a viewpointdifferent from the play status of the game, discussions can be made onactual mistakes and the like in aspect of strategies, and the reviewscan be used for next game play.

It is a conventional practice to have a mechanism where a predeterminedaward such as a trophy is provided to the user when the user satisfiespredetermined conditions (missions, tasks, etc.) that are set in thegame, in order to keep the user's motivation for the game. A reward suchas a trophy is provided when a condition set in the game is cleared.Therefore, a reward is used as an indicator of the degree of proficiencyin the game. On the other hand, there is no indicator for evaluating aplay style of a user when a plurality of users play a game together. Inother words, an indicator for indicating whether or not the play of agame is good is a conventional practice. However, besides thisindicator, no indicator for evaluating a user conventionally exists.Thus, focusing on how efficiently the game should be played isconventionally the most common way of having fun.

Thus, in the information processing system 1, variations of the user'sway of enjoying a game are increased by introducing a new indicator forevaluating the user. A new multiplayer form can be achieved in a gameexecuted in the information processing system 1. In normal multiplayerplay, a participant user can join a game when the participant userobtains permission of a host user. In a new mode, a participant userjoins a game without obtaining permission of a host user. Since the hostuser does not know that another user has joined the game, the host userpersistently progresses the game as single-player play. The participantuser can secretly help or, conversely, interrupt a player character ofthe host user. For example, the participant user can help the playercharacter by defeating an enemy of the player character without lettingthe host user notice or can interrupt the player character by joiningthe game as an enemy of the player character.

Such play of the participant user is detected by the game and used todetermine profile information of the participant user in the server 5.For example, as a user profile, the server 5 sets two indicators anddetermines level values thereof based on the play status. A firstindicator shows a level for cooperative play for the host user, and asecond indicator shows a level for uncooperative (interfering) play forthe host user. These level values of the indicators are increased inaccordance with the number of events of participation made by the userand/or the degree of cooperation or interference.

Conditions for satisfying the first and the second indicators are set inadvance in the game. For example, a condition related to the firstindicator is to defeat a predetermined number of enemies that exist inthe direction of the progress of the player character during the game,and a condition related to the second indicator is to hit apredetermined number of attacks on the player character. Such conditionsmay be set uniquely by a game. A game may set a plurality of conditions.When such conditions are satisfied, the game notifies the server 5accordingly. With this, the server 5 updates the level value of eachindicator in the profile information of the participant user. Therespective level values of the first and second indicators are increasedby accumulation of profile information over a plurality of games by theserver 5. If the level of the first indicator of a given user is high,it is found that the user has a strong tendency to play extremelycooperatively (devotedly) for a player character. If the level of thesecond indicator is high, it is found that the user has a strongtendency to play uncooperatively (interferingly) for the playercharacter. The levels are incorporated in activities and used asinformation that represents the play style of the user.

As a different mode of multiplayer play, a user who plays earlier canalso leave items to his/her friend during the game. Since the users playthe game at a different time, the play is not multiplayer play in astrict sense. The user who plays first leaves an item to his/her friendat a certain stage, and the friend who plays later can acquire the leftitem when the friend enters the stage. This is achieved by registeringin the server 5 information indicating that the user has left the itemby the preceding user in advance and then by notifying the game of thefriend of the information by the server 5. It is also possible for theuser to uniquely make a mini game during the game, offering a feeling ofplaying the game together to users who are playing at a different time.

The above multiplayer play is based on the premise that a plurality ofusers have the same game Y. As described previously, the user A can viewplay motion video of the user B in real time in the informationprocessing system 1. If the user A attempts to join the game inmultiplayer play, the user A has to possess the game Y. However, theuser A does not always possess the game Y at that time. Thus, theinformation processing system 1 provides a mechanism where the user Acan join the game Y even in such a case.

A participation mode of the user A at this time is called “remote play.”When the user A is permitted to join by the user B, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a of the user A transmits gamecontroller operation information to the second information processingapparatus 100 b of the user B, and the second information processingapparatus 100 b transmits a game video image generated in accordancewith the operation information to the second information processingapparatus 100 a. In other words, in remote play, the respective gamecontrollers of the user A and the user B transmit operation informationto the second information processing apparatus 100 b of the user B, andthe second information processing apparatus 100 b processes theoperation information from the respective game controllers. With this,even if the user A does not have the game Y, the user A can enjoy thegame Y with the user B.

When a plurality of users play a game using a conventional game device,a single screen image is generally divided into a plurality of screenimages so as to display game images for respective users on therespective split screen images. In the remote play, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b may transmit a single screenimage of the game to the second information processing apparatus 100 aor may transmit only a game screen image split for the user A. Regardinga game that outputs a screen image to a 3DTV compatible with shutterglasses and that can alternately provide two users the respective gamescreen images of the users, the game screen images for the respectiveusers may be provided to the respective users.

As one use case of remote play, the user A can be in charge of a gameoperation during the user B's play. For example, it is a case where theuser B asks the user A to beat an enemy character the user B cannotbeat. Putting the user B's game controller into the user A's hands isthe image for this. The user A, instead of the user B, operates theplayer character of the user B in the second information processingapparatus 100 b.

As described above, the information processing system 1 provides theuser with various utilization modes. In the following, an explanation isgiven regarding the respective configurations of a first informationprocessing apparatus 10 and a second information processing apparatus100, and an explanation is given regarding the details of severalfeatures of the information processing system 1.

An explanation is given regarding the exterior configuration and circuitconfiguration of a first information processing apparatus 10 accordingto the present exemplary embodiment. The first information processingapparatus 10 shown in the following is a portable game device.Alternatively, the first information processing apparatus may be aportable terminal apparatus of other types. In order to achieve theseveral utilization modes of the information processing system 1, thefirst information processing apparatus 10 may be a console-type terminalapparatus as well as a portable terminal apparatus.

[Configuration of Front Surface Portion]

FIG. 2A illustrates the front surface of a first information processingapparatus 10. The first information processing apparatus 10 is formed ofa horizontally-long housing, and the left and right areas held by theuser each have an arc-shaped outline contour. A rectangular touch panel50 is provided on the front surface of the first information processingapparatus 10. The touch panel 50 comprises a display device 20 and atransparent front touch pad 21 that covers the surface of the displaydevice 20. The display device 20 is an organic EL (Electro-Liminescence)panel and displays an image. The display device 20 may be a displaymeans such as a liquid crystal panel or the like. The front touch pad 21is a multi-touch pad having a function of detecting a plurality ofpoints that are touched concurrently, and the touch panel 50 is formedas a multi-touch screen.

A triangle button 22 a, a circle button 22 b, a cross button 22 c, and asquare button 22 d each located at a vertex of a rhomboid (hereinafter,generically referred to as “operation buttons 22”) are provided on theright side of the touch panel 50. An up key 23 a, a left key 23 b, adown key 23 c, and a right key 23 d (hereinafter, generically referredto as “directional keys 23”) are provided on the left side of the touchpanel 50. The user can input eight directions, up, down, left, and rightdirections and oblique directions, by operating the directional keys 23.A left stick 24 a is provided below the directional keys 23, and a rightstick 24 b is provided below the operation buttons 22. The user tiltsthe left stick 24 a or the right stick 24 b (hereinafter, genericallyreferred to as “analog sticks 24”) so as to input a direction and theamount of a tilt. An L button 26 a and an R button 26 b are provided atthe left and right top of the housing, respectively. The operationbuttons 22, the directional keys 23, the analog sticks 24, the L button26 a, and the R button 26 b form operation means operated by the user.

A front camera 30 is provided near the operation buttons 22. A leftspeaker 25 a and a right speaker 25 b that output sounds (hereinafter,generically referred to as “speakers 25”) are provided on the left sideof the left stick 24 a and on the right side of the right stick 24 b,respectively. A HOME button 27 is provided below the left stick 24 a,and a START button 28 and a SELECT button 29 are provided below theright stick 24 b.

[Configuration of Rear Surface Portion]

FIG. 2B illustrates the rear surface of a first information processingapparatus 10. A rear camera 31 and a rear touch pad 32 are provided onthe rear surface of the first information processing apparatus 10. Therear touch pad 32, as in the case of the front touch pad 21, is formedas a multi-touch pad. The first information processing apparatus 10 isprovided with the two cameras and touch pads on the front and rearsurfaces.

[Configuration of Top Surface Portion]

FIG. 3A illustrates the upper surface of the first informationprocessing apparatus 10. As described previously, the L button 26 a andthe R button 26 b are provided at the left and right edges of the uppersurface of the first information processing apparatus 10, respectively.A power button 33 is provided on the right side of the L button 26 a,and the user turns the power on or off by pressing the power button 33for at least a predetermined period of time (e.g., two seconds). Thefirst information processing apparatus 10 has a power control functionof transitioning to a suspend state when a time period during which theoperation means is not operated (no operation time period) lasts for apredetermined period of time. When the first information processingapparatus 10 enters the suspend state, the user can bring the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 back to an awake state from thesuspend state by pressing the power button 33 for a short period of time(e.g., two seconds or less).

A game card slot 34 is a slot for inserting a game card. In the figure,the game card slot 34 covered by a slot cover is shown. An LED lamp thatflashes when the game card is being accessed may be provided near thegame card slot 34. An accessory terminal 35 is for connecting peripheraldevices (accessories). In the figure, the accessory terminal 35 is shownbeing covered by a terminal cover. A negative button 36 a and a positivebutton 36 b for adjusting the volume are provided between the accessoryterminal 35 and the R button 26 b.

[Configuration of Bottom Surface Portion]

FIG. 3B illustrates the bottom surface of the first informationprocessing apparatus 10. A memory card slot 37 is a slot for inserting amemory card. In the figure, the memory card slot 37 covered by a slotcover is shown. A sound input and output terminal 38, a microphone 39,and a multi-use terminal 40 are provided on the bottom surface of thefirst information processing apparatus 10. The multi-use terminal 40 iscompatible with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) and can be connected toother devices via a USB cable.

[Configuration of Left Side Surface Portion]

FIG. 3C illustrates the left side surface of the first informationprocessing apparatus 10. A SIM card slot 41 serving as a slot forinserting a SIM card is provided on the left side surface of the firstinformation processing apparatus 10.

[Circuit Configuration of First Information Processing Apparatus 10]

FIG. 4 illustrates the circuit configuration of the first informationprocessing apparatus 10. Components thereof are connected to one anothervia a bus 92. A wireless communication module 71 is formed with awireless LAN module that complies with the communication standard ofIEEE 802.11b/g or the like and is connected to an external network viaan AP 2. The wireless communication module 71 may have a communicationfunction in Bluetooth (registered trademark) protocol. A mobile phonemodule 72 is compatible with a 3rd generation digital mobile phonemethod that complies with the IMT-2000 (International MobileTelecommunication 2000) standard set by ITU (InternationalTelecommunications Union) and is connected to a mobile phone network 4.A SIM card 74 in which a unique ID number for identifying the phonenumber of a mobile phone is recorded is inserted into the SIM card slot41. The SIM card 74 being inserted into the SIM card slot 41 allows themobile phone module 72 to communicate with the mobile phone network 4.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 60 executes a program or the like loadedin a main memory 64. A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) 62 performscalculation necessary for image processing. The main memory 64 isconfigured with RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like and stores aprogram or data used by the CPU 60. A storage 66 is configured with aNAND-type flash memory or the like and used as a built-in auxiliarystorage device.

A motion sensor 67 detects the behavior of the first informationprocessing apparatus 10, and a terrestrial magnetism sensor 68 detectsterrestrial magnetism in a triaxial direction. A GPS control unit 69receives a signal from a GPS satellite and calculates a currentposition. The front camera 30 and the rear camera 31 each capture animage and input image data. The front camera 30 and the rear camera 31are configured with a CMOS image sensor (Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor Image Sensor).

In an interface 90, an operation unit 70 includes various operationmeans provided in the first information processing apparatus 10. Morespecifically, the operation unit 70 includes the operation buttons 22,the directional keys 23, the analog sticks 24, the L button 26 a, the Rbutton 26 b, the HOME button 27, the START button 28, the SELECT button29, the power button 33, the negative button 36 a, and the positivebutton 36 b. The front touch pad 21 and the rear touch pad 32 aremulti-touch pads, and the front touch pad 21 is arranged being overlaidon the surface of the display device 20. The speakers 25 output a soundcreated by the functions of the first information processing apparatus10, and the microphone 39 inputs a sound from around the firstinformation processing apparatus 10. The sound input and output terminal38 inputs a stereo sound from the external microphone and outputs thestereo sound to an external headphone or the like.

A game card 76 in which a game file is recorded is inserted into thegame card slot 34. The game card 76 has a data-writable recording area.When the game card 76 is placed in the game card slot 34, data iswritten or read by a media drive. A memory card 78 is inserted into thememory card slot 37. The memory card 78, when placed in the memory cardslot 37, is used as an external auxiliary storage device. The multi-useterminal 40 can be used as a USB terminal and exchanges data withanother USB device when the USB cable 80 is connected to the multi-useterminal 40. To the accessory terminal 35, a peripheral device isconnected.

FIG. 5 illustrates a usage environment of a second informationprocessing apparatus 100. A display apparatus 102 may be a TV set havinga display for outputting an image and a speaker for outputting a soundor may be a computer display. A camera 104 is provided on the displayapparatus 102. When the user turns on the main power of the secondinformation processing apparatus 100, the image of the user captured bythe camera 104 is transmitted to the second information processingapparatus 100, and the second information processing apparatus 100identifies the user by image recognition processing. The secondinformation processing apparatus 100 performs a process of logging inusing a local account of the identified user and performs, using anetwork account, a process of signing in to a network service that isprovided by the server 5. The camera 104 is a stereo camera and mayallow the second information processing apparatus 100 to measure adistance from a subject. For example, if a plurality of users arecaptured, the second information processing apparatus 100 may log inand/or sign in using an account of a user near the camera 104.

The display apparatus 102 may be connected to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 via a wired cable or wirelessly via a wirelessLAN (Local Area Network). An input apparatus 120 is a game controller.The user operates the input apparatus 120 and provides operationinformation to the second information processing apparatus 100 so as toprogress a game. The second information processing apparatus 100, theinput apparatus 120, and the display apparatus 102 may be formedintegrally such that the apparatuses are configured as a mobile terminalapparatus provided with an application processing function. In theinformation processing system 1, the second information processingapparatus 100 becomes connected to the network 3 via the AP 2 connectedto the cable 14.

FIG. 6 illustrates the exterior configuration of the input apparatus120. The input apparatus 120 is provided, on the surface of a housingthereof, with directional keys 121, analog sticks 127 a and 127 b, andfour types of operation buttons 126 as operation means operable by theuser. The four types of operation buttons 126 comprise a circle-markedbutton 122, an x-marked button 123, a square-marked button 124, and atriangle-marked button 125. On the rear housing surface of the inputapparatus 120, an L1 button 129 a and an R1 button 129 b are provided onthe left side and the right side, respectively. The user holds a leftgrip 128 a with his/her left hand and a right grip 128 b with his/herright hand so as to operate each operation means.

The input apparatus 120 has a function of transmitting an operationsignal entered by the user to the second information processingapparatus 100. In the present exemplary embodiment, the input apparatus120 is configured to be capable of communicating wirelessly with thesecond information processing apparatus 100. The input apparatus 120 andthe second information processing apparatus 100 may establish a wirelessconnection by using Bluetooth (registered trademark) protocol or IEEE802.11 protocol or the like. The input apparatus 120 may be connected tothe second information processing apparatus 100 via a cable so as totransmit an operation signal entered by the user to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100.

FIG. 7 illustrates a functional block diagram of the second informationprocessing apparatus 100. The second information processing apparatus100 is provided with a wireless interface 140, a switch 142, a displayunit 144, a hard disk drive 150, a recording medium loader unit 152, adisk drive 154, a main memory 160, a buffer memory 170, and a controlunit 180. The hard disk drive 150 is an example of a large-capacitymemory device, and the memory device may be configured by a flash memoryor the like. The display unit 144 has a frame memory for buffering datato be displayed on a display of the display apparatus 102.

The switch 142 is an Ethernet switch (Ethernet is a registeredtrademark) and a device that is connected to an external device by wireor wirelessly so as to transmit and receive data. The switch 142 isconnected to the wireless interface 140, and the wireless interface 140is connected to the input apparatus 120 through a predetermined wirelesscommunication protocol. The wireless interface 140 may be connected tothe AP2 via a wireless LAN. The operation signal entered by the user inthe input apparatus 120 is provided to the control unit 180 via thewireless interface 140 and the switch 142.

<Content Downloading Function>

FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining a flow of content downloading in theinformation processing system 1. The user A is away from home carryingthe first information processing apparatus 10 a. The first informationprocessing apparatus 10 a of the user A is accessing the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b of the user B who is registeredas a friend so as to view a game video image of the game X being playedby the user B.

FIG. 9 illustrates a content image displayed on the display apparatus 20of the first information processing apparatus 10. The content image is alive video image of the game X currently being played by the user B. Thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a of the user A is connectedto the second information processing apparatus 100 b of the user B andreproduces a play video image delivered from the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b. The first information processing apparatus10 a acquires the IP address of the second information processingapparatus 100 b from the server 5. A content image to be viewed may be agame video image of play that has been played by the user B in the past.The first information processing apparatus 10 a may become connected tothe server 5 and acquire the activity information of the user B, and theuser A may select play motion video from the past included in theactivity and reproduces the play motion video. The content image may bea motion video image or may be a still image.

FIG. 10 illustrates a link button displayed on the display apparatus 20.In the present exemplary embodiment, a link button 174 is displayed asan image for acquiring game software, and more specifically, the linkbutton 174 is a button that allows for access to the server 5. When theuser A taps the link button 174, a request for accessing a screen imagefor acquiring the game software is transmitted to the server 5. Thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a becomes connected to thebase station 6 by the mobile phone module 72 so as to communicate withthe server 5 via the mobile phone network 4 and the network 3. Upon thereceipt of the access request, the server 5 generates data forgenerating a page for acquiring the game software (acquisition pageconfiguration data) and transmits the data to the first informationprocessing apparatus 10 a.

FIG. 11 illustrates a content acquisition screen image displayed on thedisplay apparatus 20. On the acquisition screen image, a purchase button176 for purchasing content is set. Just like the link button 174, thepurchase button 176 is also an image for acquiring game software. On thecontent acquisition screen image, a play video image of the user B isdisplayed, and the user A can take a purchasing action while viewing theplay video image. On the acquisition screen image, the play video imageof the user B may be switched with play motion video of another user.The user A can purchase the game X while checking what kind of game thegame X is.

When the user A selects the purchase button 176, the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a transmits a request for acquiring the contentto the server 5. In this example, a request for acquiring the game X istransmitted from the content acquisition screen image to the server 5.Alternatively, a request for acquiring the content may be transmitted tothe server 5 when the link button 174 shown in FIG. 10 is selected. Inother words, the link button 174 may have a role of the purchase button176.

Referring back to FIG. 8, upon the receipt of the acquisition request,the server 5 transmits stored content (game software) to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a. In other words, upon the receiptof the content acquisition request from the first information processingapparatus 10 a, the server 5 transmits the content using the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a as a destination. This allows theuser A to download content onto the second information processingapparatus 100 a located indoors even when the user A is outside.

FIG. 12 illustrates functional blocks for transmitting a contentacquisition request in the first information processing apparatus 10.The configuration shown in FIG. 12 is implemented in hardware componentby any CPU of a computer, a memory or a program loaded into the memory.Functional blocks are implemented by the cooperation of hardwarecomponents. Thus, a person skilled in the art should appreciate thatthere are many ways of accomplishing these functional blocks in variousforms in accordance with the components of hardware only, software only,or the combination of both.

An acquisition unit 200 acquires image data in which game play isrecorded or image data of a game currently being played from the server5 or from the second information processing apparatus 100 possessed byanother user. As metadata, information (content ID) for identifying thegame being played is included in this image data. A display processingunit 202 displays an image of game play on the display apparatus 20using the acquired image data. As described previously, a game videoimage to be displayed is a motion video image played in the past orcurrently being played by a user other than the user A, and the user Adoes not possess the game X being played. FIG. 9 illustrates play motionvideo being displayed on the display apparatus 20.

When the user A performs a predetermined operation on the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a, the display processing unit 202displays an image for acquiring content as shown in FIG. 10. Forexample, when the user A taps the display apparatus 20 on which the playmotion video is being displayed, a reception unit 204 receivesinformation indicating that the play motion video has been selected viathe front touch pad 21, and the display processing unit 202 displays theimage for acquiring the content. When a predetermined button in theoperation unit 70 is operated, the reception unit 204 may receive theinformation indicating that the play motion video has been selected, andthe display processing unit 202 may display the image for acquiring thecontent. In the present exemplary embodiment, one of images foracquiring content is the link button 174 that allows for access to theserver 5 (see FIG. 10). The display processing unit 202 may display thelink button 174 not only during the display of a play image but alsoafter the display has ceased.

When the user taps the link button 174, the reception unit 204recognizes that the link button 174 has been selected, and a requestgeneration unit 206 generates a request for acquiring the content. Thisrequest for acquiring the content is a request for accessing anacquisition screen image of game software and includes the content ID ofthe game software. The request generation unit 206 receives the contentID provided from the acquisition unit 200 and keeps the content ID whilethe play motion video is being displayed on the display apparatus 20.With this, the request generation unit 206 can include the content ID inan access request. The request generation unit 206 has the addressinformation of the server 5 in the network 3 and generates a packet thatincludes this address information and the access request. This packet istransmitted to the server 5 from a transmission unit 208.

In FIG. 10, an example is shown where the link button 174 is displayedover play motion video. Alternatively, the link button 174 may bedisplayed as one of items included in an option menu. For example, asother items, the option menu may include copying, deletion, or the likeof a display image. The option menu may be displayed being superimposedon a content image by tapping a predetermined button (not shown) on thescreen image.

FIG. 13 illustrates functional blocks of the server 5. The server 5 isprovided with a request reception unit 220, a transmission processingunit 222, a content search unit 224, and a retention unit 230. Theretention unit 230 holds a plurality of items of content.

When the request reception unit 220 receives a packet including acontent ID from the first information processing apparatus 10 a, thecontent search unit 224 checks whether or not content (game software)identified by the content ID included in the packet exists in theretention unit 230. When the content search unit 224 confirms that thecontent exists in the retention unit 230, the content search unit 224generates data for generating a page for acquiring the content(acquisition page configuration data), and the transmission processingunit 222 transmits the data to the first information processingapparatus 10 a. In the first information processing apparatus 10 a, thedisplay processing unit 202 displays an acquisition screen image on thedisplay apparatus 20 using the acquisition page configuration data (seeFIG. 12). On the acquisition screen image, a purchase button 176 forpurchasing the content is set, and when the user taps the purchasebutton 176, the request generation unit 206 generates a request fordownloading the content. This request for downloading the contentincludes a destination of the content to be purchased, and thedestination is registered as the second information processing apparatus100 a in the request generation unit 206. The transmission unit 208transmits the generated request for downloading to the server 5.

In the server 5, the request reception unit 220 receives the request fordownloading. This request for downloading includes the destination ofthe purchased content. When the content search unit 224 reads out acontent file identified by the request for downloading from theretention unit 230, the transmission processing unit 222 transmits thecontent file to the destination (second information processing apparatus100 a) identified by the request for downloading.

The destination of the content may be included in the request fordownloading. Alternatively, the destination may be managed in advance bythe transmission processing unit 222 in the server 5. The user A mayregister in advance, in a management database, information indicatingthat the destination for downloading the content is the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a. Therefore, the destination ofthe content may not be included in the request for downloading in thiscase. When the request reception unit 220 receives the request fordownloading from the first information processing apparatus 10 a, thetransmission processing unit 222 extracts the destination mapped to thefirst information processing apparatus 10 a from the managementdatabase. Based on the destination, the content file can be transmittedto the second information processing apparatus 100 a.

There is a case where the user A is outside, and the main power of thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a is turned off. Thus, thetransmission processing unit 222 may transmit an activation instructionto the second information processing apparatus 100 a upon the receipt ofthe request for downloading from the first information processingapparatus 10 a. Upon the receipt of the activation instruction from theserver 5, the second information processing apparatus 100 aautomatically turns the main power on so as to become activated andautomatically signs in to the server 5. This allows the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a to download the content. Thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a may notify the server 5that the second information processing apparatus 100 a is activated andin a downloadable condition at this time. Upon the receipt of thisnotification, the transmission processing unit 222 may transmit thesoftware of the game X to the second information processing apparatus100 a. Upon the further receipt of a notification indicating that therequest for downloading the game X has been issued by the firstinformation processing apparatus 10 a after the receipt of theactivation instruction from the server 5, the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a may download the software of the game X basedon this notification.

The first information processing apparatus 10 a may transmit anactivation instruction to the second information processing apparatus100 a concurrently when the first information processing apparatus 10 atransmits the request for downloading. Upon the receipt of theactivation instruction from the first information processing apparatus10 a, the second information processing apparatus 100 a automaticallyturns the main power on so as to become activated and automaticallysigns in to the server 5. This allows the second information processingapparatus 100 a to make preparations for executing download.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of functional blocks of a secondinformation processing apparatus 100 for downloading and then executingcontent. The second information processing apparatus 100 is providedwith an acquisition unit 300, an activation control unit 310, an inputunit 312, a processing unit 320, and a memory unit 330. The acquisitionunit 300 has an instruction acquisition unit 302 and a contentacquisition unit 304, and the processing unit 320 has an installationprocessing unit 322, and execution unit 324, and a display processingunit 326. The memory unit 330 may be a disk drive 154. Alternatively,the memory unit 330 may be configured by other types of memoryapparatuses.

The configuration shown in FIG. 14 is implemented in hardware componentby any CPU of a computer, a memory or a program loaded into the memory.Functional blocks are implemented by the cooperation of hardwarecomponents. Thus, a person skilled in the art should appreciate thatthere are many ways of accomplishing these functional blocks in variousforms in accordance with the components of hardware only, software only,or the combination of both.

During a sleep state where the main power is turned off, a communicationfunction of the second information processing apparatus 100 is active,and the second information processing apparatus 100 can receive aninstruction from the server 5 or the input apparatus 120. During thesleep state, the instruction acquisition unit 302 acquires an activationinstruction from the server 5 or from the first information processingapparatus 10 of the same user. Upon the receipt of this activationinstruction, the activation control unit 310 turns the main power on soas to activate the second information processing apparatus 100, and thesecond information processing apparatus 100 becomes capable ofdownloading content.

After the activation of the second information processing apparatus 100a, the content acquisition unit 304 downloads the software of the game Xfrom the server 5 and then stores the software in the memory unit 330.The content acquisition unit 304 may acquire, from the server 5, astored area (URL: Uniform Resource Locator) and/or a content ID of thegame software to be downloaded and then download the game X right awayor at a preferred time. When the server 5 confirms that the activationof the second information processing apparatus 100 a has been completedafter transmitting the activation instruction to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a, the server 5 may transmit the game softwareto the second information processing apparatus 100 a. In either case,the second information processing apparatus 100 a automaticallydownloads the game X without an operation performed by the user A. Withthis, a situation can be created where the game X has already beendownloaded by the time the user A comes back home. When the contentacquisition unit 304 finishes downloading the content, the activationcontrol unit 310 turns the main power off so that the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a transitions into a sleep state. In theinformation processing system 1, a friend can give a present such asgame software to the user A. As in the case of the game X, the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a automatically downloads thepresent. The downloaded game software is installed in principleaccording to an instruction from the user. Game software that has beenautomatically downloaded is not automatically installed.

After coming back home, the user A turns on the main power of the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a so as to activate the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a. The user A brings his/her facecloser to the front of the camera 104 at this time, and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a authenticates the user A based onan image captured by the camera 104. This allows the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a to perform a process of automatic logging inusing the local account of the user A and to perform a process ofautomatic signing in using the network account of the user A. Upon thecompletion of the log in and sign in by the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a, the display processing unit 326 displays amenu screen image on the display apparatus 102.

FIG. 15 is an example of a menu screen image displayed in the secondinformation processing apparatus 100. In the information processingsystem 1 according to the exemplary embodiment, various types ofinformation is provided from the server 5 to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a even when the user A is away from home.Various items are arranged on the menu screen image. When the user Aselects an item using the input apparatus 120, the input unit 312receives a selection operation, and the display processing unit 326displays a detail screen image of the selected item.

FIG. 16 illustrates a list screen image of a downloaded game. When theuser A selects “downloaded games” in FIG. 15, the display processingunit 326 displays the list screen image of the downloaded game on thedisplay apparatus 102. The figure shows an example where the game X isdownloaded. However, a game demo that is autonomously provided by theserver 5 may be downloaded. Also, game software given by a friend as apresent may be downloaded. If the server 5 autonomously provides a game,a comment indicating that the game is recommended by the server 5 may beadded to the game. When a friend gives a game as a present, the name ofthe friend, who is the sender of the present, may be added to the game.When the user selects the game X using the input apparatus 120, theinput unit 312 receives a selection operation, and the installationprocessing unit 322 installs the software of the game X. This allows theuser A to play the game X.

As described above, the information processing system 1 allows thesecond information processing apparatus 100, which is located indoors,to download desired content (game software) even when the user A isoutside. This allows the user to enjoy the game immediately after comingback home. For example, the user may specify a desired downloadcompletion time in advance in the server 5, and the server 5 may set atime for transmitting content according to the specified time.

As shown in FIG. 15, the second information processing apparatus 100 isprovided with various types of information from the server 5. Forexample, when the user selects an item, “the most popular games,” theuser can learn which one is the most often played game in the world foreach genre. Accessing such information, the user feels tempted to play anew game, and downloads game software from the second informationprocessing apparatus 100.

Realism is pursued in recent game developments, and the user can enjoy afeeling as if the user had the actual experience in the ethos of thegame. The pursuit of realism includes details such as the gestures andexpressions of game characters and background depictions, and the ethosof the game that closely resembles the actual world is realized.Therefore, the data size of game software has inevitably been increased.Thus, it often takes time to download game software. For the user A whois about to download and play a game, it is a pain to have an extremelylong downloading time. Thus, it is preferred that a waiting time fordownload be reduced so that game software is efficiently downloaded.

Thus, in the information processing system 1, game software can bedivided for downloading. An example is shown in the following where,e.g., game software (game Z) whose data size is about several tens of GBis downloaded.

The user selects an item, “the most popular games or “friends'activities,” on the menu screen image so as to view the information of agame the user does not possess. For example, a game title being playedby a friend may be displayed in the activities, and a link button may bedisplayed next to the game title that is not possessed by the user. Whenthe user performs an operation of selecting the link button using thedisplay apparatus 20 when purchasing the game Z after viewing theinformation of the game Z, information indicating that the operation hasbe performed is transmitted to the server 5, and the server 5 transmitsthe acquisition page configuration data of the game z to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100. The display processing unit 326generates a purchase screen image of the game Z based on the acquisitionpage configuration data and displays the purchase screen image on thedisplay apparatus 102. The purchase screen image of a game may be ascreen image such as the one shown in FIG. 11 or may be a differentscreen image. When the user selects a purchase button, a request foracquiring the game Z is transmitted to the server 5, and the server 5transmits the software of the game Z to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100.

The game Z is composed of a plurality of stages. For example, a firststage through a 100th stage have been prepared. In conventional gameinstallation, the game Z of a full size is first downloaded in itsentirety, and installation processing is then performed in a hard diskdrive 150. Thus, a download time becomes long if the entire size isabout several tens of GB. Thus, the server 5 divides the game softwareinto at least two parts and stores the divided game software in advance.

In reference to FIG. 13, the retention unit 230 stores the game softwareas both a first file for executing a part of the game and a second filefor executing the entire game. The part of the game contains at leastthe first stage of the hundred stages and may contain a plurality ofstages to be played in the order starting from the first stage. Theentire game means all the hundred stages.

The game software contains both a program itself for progressing thegame and data used by the program. The first file comprises both theprogram itself necessary for playing the first stage and data used forthe first stage. In other words, the second information processingapparatus 100 can execute at least the first stage of the game Z bydownloading and installing the first file.

When the request reception unit 220 receives a request for downloadingthe game software in the server 5, the content search unit 224 reads outthe game software from the retention unit 230, and the transmissionprocessing unit 222 transmits the game software to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100. The transmission processing unit222 first transmits the first file and then transmits the second fileafter completing the transmission of the first file. The number ofdivision of the game software is not limited to two. The game softwaremay be divided into three or more. When transmitting the game softwareto the second information processing apparatus 100, the transmissionprocessing unit 222 notifies the second information processing apparatus100 that the game software is divided into a plurality of files (in thiscase, the first and second files) and transmitted. The first file to betransmitted first is a file that allows a part of the game to beexecuted by installing at least the first file. After transmitting thisnotification information, the transmission processing unit 222 startstransmitting the first file.

After acquiring the notification information, the content acquisitionunit 304 downloads the first file. When the content acquisition unit 304finishes downloading the first file, the content acquisition unit 304determines based on the notification information that a part of the gamesoftware that can be installed has been acquired and instructs theinstallation processing unit 322 that installation can be performed. Thenotification information contains information for identifying a filethat allows the game to be started when the file is downloaded from theserver 5 and installed. In this case, an example is simply shown wherethe game can be started once the first file is downloaded and installed.The first file may be composed of a plurality of files. Upon the receiptof the instruction, the installation processing unit 322 automaticallyinstalls the first file. Upon the completion of the installationperformed by the installation processing unit 322, the displayprocessing unit 326 displays a list of installed games on the displayapparatus 102.

FIG. 17 illustrates a list of games that can be played. The list ofgames shows downloaded games. Games that can be played are those thathave been downloaded and then installed. The example shows the title ofthe game Y, an icon image 332 a thereof, the title of the game X, anicon image 332 b thereof, the title of the game Z, and an icon image 332c thereof. In this example, a restriction mark 334 is added to the iconimage 332 c, and a message indicating that a first stage can be playedis displayed next to the title of the game Z.

When displaying an icon image of the game software, the displayprocessing unit 326 changes a display mode of the icon image 332differently when the game software has been downloaded in its entiretyand when the game software has not been downloaded in its entirety. Morespecifically, the display processing unit 326 changes the display modeof the icon image 332 differently when the game software is installed inits entirety and when a part of the game software is installed. In thisexample, the display mode is changed depending on whether or not therestriction mark 334 is to be added. Normally, the game software is tobe installed in its entirety and executed. However, in the informationprocessing system 1, the game can be played once a part of the gamesoftware has been installed, in order to reduce the waiting time fordownload. Therefore, it is preferred to notify the user that a fullinstallation of the game software has not been completed. In FIG. 17,the display processing unit 326 adds the restriction mark 334 to theicon image 332 c and gives a notification to the user by adding amessage indicating that the number of stages is limited. As described,by changing the display mode of the icon image 332 c, the user can learnthat the full installation has not been completed.

When the user selects the icon image 332 c using the input apparatus120, the input unit 312 receives a selection operation, and theexecution unit 324 executes the game Z. As described, in the informationprocessing system 1, when the content acquisition unit 304 acquires apart of full-size application software, the installation processing unit322 automatically installs the acquired part, and the execution unit 324sets the installed application software to be executable.

The server 5 continues to transmit a second file to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 while the execution unit 324 isexecuting the application software, and the content acquisition unit 304continues to download the application software. This download process isperformed in the background, and the user does not have to be aware thatthe download is going on. The content acquisition unit 304 notifies thedisplay processing unit 326 of a download status from point to point,and the display processing unit 326 may display a progressive bar thatindicates the download status in an area that does not interfere withthe progress of the game. When the content acquisition unit 304 finishesdownloading the second file, the display processing unit 326 ispreferably notifies the user that the full download has been completed.

An explanation is now given on a relationship between the first file andthe second file. The first file contains both a program itself thatallows at least a first stage of the game to be executed and data. Inorder to simplify the explanation in the following, it is assumed thatthe first file is a file for executing the first stage and that thesecond file is a file for executing at least the rest of stages.

As one aspect, the second file may be a file for executing all thestages of the game Z. In other words, there is a relationship where thesecond file is game software for executing all the stages from the firststage through the 100th stage and the first file is game software forexecuting only the first stage. In this aspect, since it takes time todownload the second file, a purpose is to allow the first file to bedownloaded before the second file so that the first stage can bepromptly played. In this case, when the download of the second filefinishes while the user is playing the first stage, the user once savesthe game and installs the second file by the installation processingunit 322. A storage area for save data due to the first file and astorage area for save data due to the second file are set as the samearea in the memory unit 330 at this time. Installation data of the firstfile is uninstalled from the memory unit 330. Since the save data areais the same for the first file and the second file, the save data isautomatically passed to installation data of the second file. The usercan play the game Z by activating the game software of the second fileonce again. Even after the downloading of the second file is finished,the execution unit 324 may be able to continue to execute the gamesoftware of the first file without finishing the game software, and theinstallation processing unit 322 may be able to automatically installthe second file during the execution of the game software of the firstfile. After the installation of the second file, the execution unit 324may be able to once save the game being executed and display a messageprompting to restart the game software of the second file. When the userfollows the prompting, the installation processing unit 322 mayuninstall the first file, and the execution unit 324 may start the gamesoftware of the second file.

As another aspect, the second file may be a file for executing the restof the stages of the game Z (i.e., the second stage through the 100thstage). The second file comprises both a program itself necessary in thesecond stage through the 100th stage and data. The second file isdesignated as a patch file for the first file, and the software of thegame Z can be installed in its entirety by applying the second file tothe first file. In this case, when the download of the second filefinishes while the user is playing the first stage, the user once savesthe game and performs patch processing on the second file by theinstallation processing unit 322. The user can play the game Z byactivating the game software one again.

As yet another aspect, the second file does not contain a program. Thesecond file comprises image data, audio data, texture, and the like ofthe second stage and the subsequent stages. A file may be prepared foreach stage. Alternatively, a plurality of stages may be put together fora file at this time. When the content acquisition unit 304 downloads afile, the installation processing unit 322 starts storing the file in apredetermined directory. The installation processing unit 322 manages anexecutable stage and notifies the game executed by the execution unit324 of the information on the stage. More specifically, when theinstallation processing unit 322 installs the first file, theinstallation processing unit 322 notifies the execution unit 324 thatthe first stage can be executed, and the game therefore takes control sothat stages other than the first stage cannot be played. When thecontent acquisition unit 304 acquires a file for executing the secondstage, and when the installation processing unit 322 stores the file inthe predetermined directory, the installation processing unit 322notifies the execution unit 324 that the second stage can be executed.With this, the game takes control so that the first stage and the secondstage can be executed, preventing the user from playing stages otherthan these stages. As described, the installation processing unit 322starts storing a file of the game software one by one and notifies thegame of a stage that becomes executable so that the game takes controlso as to allow the user to select and play an executable stage.

When there already exists additional data and when whether or not datais to be used is determined based on the presence of key data, the gamemay make an inquiry to the system software regarding whether the keydata is present and may use the additional data if the key data ispresent.

As described, when a full installation of the game Z is completed, thedisplay processing unit 326 indicates that the full installation hasbeen done by removing the restriction mark 334 from the icon image 332 cshown in FIG. 17. As described, the display processing unit 326 mayindicate using the restriction mark 334 whether the full installationhas been done or not. Alternatively, the display processing unit 326 mayindicate the completion of the full installation by changing the displaymode of the icon image 332 c. For example, if the full installation hasnot been done, by displaying the icon image 332 c in a small size or ina light manner, a distinction may be made by the user from an icon imageof a game for which a full installation has been done.

The download processing is explained in the above. The processing ofdividing the game software into a plurality of files and thentransmitting the files by the server 5 may be limited to a case when arequest for downloading is made by the second information processingapparatus 100. In other words, when the source of the request fordownloading is the same as the destination of the game software, theserver 5 transmits the first file and the second file in said order. Onthe other hand, if the source (the first information processingapparatus 10) of the request for downloading and the destination (secondinformation processing apparatus 100) are different, the server 5 doesnot need to transmit the game software after dividing the game software.In this case, since the user does not play the game Z immediately, it isnot necessary to be conscious about the user's waiting time, and theserver 5 may allow for a full installation of the game software. Asdescribed, when a source of a request for downloading is different froma download destination, it is preferred that the transmission processingunit 222 transmit game software without dividing the game software inthe server 5.

<Game Play Participation Function>

An explanation is given of a function of participating another user'splay in the following. As described previously, the informationprocessing system 1 provides the user with two participation modes. Onemode is remote play where the user joins play of another user even whenthe user does not possess the game, and another mode is multiplayer playwhere the user starts the game using the second information processingapparatus 100 and enjoys playing the game together with another user.

FIG. 18 is a diagram explaining a user's participation function in theinformation processing system 1. The user B is playing a car racinggame, and, through the display apparatus 102 connected to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a, the user A is watching a gamevideo image of play being played by the user B using the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b. The user B is registered as afriend of the user A. The second information processing apparatus 100 aof the user A acquires an IP address of the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b of the user B from the server 5 so as tobecome connected to the second information processing apparatus 100 b.Hereinafter, the display apparatus 102 of the user A is referred to as adisplay apparatus 102 a, and the display apparatus 102 of the user B isreferred to as a display apparatus 102 b.

FIG. 19 illustrates a game video image that is output to the displayapparatus 102 b from the second information processing apparatus 100 bof the user B. When the second information processing apparatus 100 a ofthe user A is receiving delivery of a game video image by streaming fromthe second information processing apparatus 100 b, an icon of the user Amay be displayed on the display apparatus 102 b of the user B, and thesecond information processing apparatus 100 b may notify the user B thatthe user A is watching the game video image. The second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b of the user B generates image data with imageresolution made lower than that of the actual play video image andtransmits the image data to the second information processing apparatus100 a. If the speed of a communication line is high, image data whoseimage resolution is the same as that of the actual play video image maybe transmitted.

FIG. 20 illustrates functional blocks of the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a of the user A. The second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a is provided with an acquisition unit 300 a,an input unit 312 a, and a processing unit 320 a. The acquisition unit300 a has an image data acquisition unit 306 a and an operationinformation acquisition unit 308 a, and the processing unit 320 a has adisplay processing unit 326 a, a participation processing unit 340 a, atransmission unit 342 a, and an execution unit 324 a.

FIG. 21 illustrates functional blocks of the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b of the user B. The second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b is provided with an acquisition unit 300 b,an input unit 312 b, and a processing unit 320 b. The acquisition unit300 b has an operation information acquisition unit 308 b, and theprocessing unit 320 b has a display processing unit 326 b, aparticipation processing unit 340 b, a transmission unit 342 b, anexecution unit 324 b, and an image data generation unit 344.

Components shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are implemented in hardwarecomponent by any CPU of a computer, a memory or a program loaded intothe memory. Functional blocks are implemented by the cooperation ofhardware components. Thus, a person skilled in the art should appreciatethat there are many ways of accomplishing these functional blocks invarious forms in accordance with the components of hardware only,software only, or the combination of both. Thus, a person skilled in theart should appreciate that there are many ways of accomplishing thesefunctional blocks in various forms in accordance with the components ofhardware only, software only, or the combination of both.

The respective components shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 correspond tocomponents necessary for a second information processing apparatus 100 aof a participant user and to components necessary for a secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b of a host user accepting theparticipation, respectively. Therefore, in reality, a single secondinformation processing apparatus 100 has the both components andfunctions shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. In this specification, thesecomponents are separately described merely for the sake of ease ofexplanation. The second information processing apparatus 100 has thecomponents shown in FIG. 14, as described previously. Of the componentsshown in FIGS. 14, 20, and 21, components specified by the samereference numerals after removing the alphabets (a or b) represent thesame or similar components.

In the second information processing apparatus 100 b shown in FIG. 21,the execution unit 324 b executes the car racing game in accordance withoperation information entered to the input apparatus 120 by the user B.The execution unit 324 b generates a game video image, and the displayprocessing unit 326 b displays the game video image on the displayapparatus 102 b. FIG. 19 illustrates an example of this game videoimage.

During the game play of the user B, the second information processingapparatus 100 a of the user A accesses the second information processingapparatus 100 b of the user B so as to receive delivery of a game videoimage from the second information processing apparatus 100 b. In thesecond information processing apparatus 100 b, the image data generationunit 344 generates image data for distribution from the game video imageat this time. The game video image that is output by the displayprocessing unit 326 b to the display apparatus 102 b is generated inaccordance with the display apparatus 102 b of the user B. Therefore, itis considered difficult for the second information processing apparatus100 a to display the game video image in real time, since the amount ofdata of the game video image that is transmitted to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a without any change via thenetwork 3 is large. Thus, the image data generation unit 344 generatesimage data of a reduced size, and the transmission unit 342 b transmitsthe image data to the second information processing apparatus 100 a.

In the second information processing apparatus 100 a, the image dataacquisition unit 306 a acquires image data of game play of the user B,and the display processing unit 326 a displays play motion image on thedisplay apparatus 102 a in real time. With this, the user A can view thegame play of the user B in real time.

FIG. 22 illustrates a game video image that is output to the displayapparatus 102 a from the second information processing apparatus 100 aof the user A. The display processing unit 326 a displays the play videoimage of the user B in a part of an area on the display apparatus 102 a.The figure shows an example where the play video image is beingdisplayed in the center. Alternatively, the play video image may bedisplayed on the left edge or on the right edge on the display surface.For example, in a case where the user is executing another applicationwhile watching the play video image of the user B, it is preferred thatan execution screen image of the application be displayed in the centerand that the play video image of the user B be displayed at the cornerof the display.

The user A can transmit a participation request to the user B byoperating the input apparatus 120 while watching the play video image ofthe user B on the display apparatus 102 a. For example, theparticipation processing unit 340 a may transmit a participation requestto the second information processing apparatus 100 b of the user B whenan area in which the play video image is being displayed is selected onthe display apparatus 102 a. When the user B allows the participation ofthe user A in the second information processing apparatus 100 b, theparticipation processing unit 340 b transmits a session ID for game playback to the second information processing apparatus 100 a. When theparticipation processing unit 340 a acquires the session ID in thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a, the user A can join thegame play of the user B.

The session ID may be generated by the server 5. When the participationprocessing unit 340 b generates an instruction for creating a sessionand the transmission unit 342 b then transmits the instruction to theserver 5, the server 5 creates a session in accordance with theinstruction for creating a session and transmits a session ID. Thisallows for management of a session for remote play and multiplayer playin the information processing system 1. An example is shown in thefollowing where the second information processing apparatus 100 a andthe second information processing apparatus 100 b transmit and/orreceive data directly using a session ID. As described previously, datamay be transmitted and/or received via the server 5.

Described above is a case where the user A transmits a participationrequest. Alternatively, the user B may invite the user A to game play.In the second information processing apparatus 100 b, the participationprocessing unit 340 b creates an invitation, and the transmission unit342 b transmits the invitation to the second information processingapparatus 100 a. In the second information processing apparatus 100 a,the display processing unit 326 a displays on the display apparatus 102a a message indicating that there has been an invitation from the userB. When the user A checks the message and wishes to join the game play,the participation processing unit 340 a generates a participationrequest accepting the participation, and the transmission unit 342 atransmits the participation request to the second information processingapparatus 100 b. In response to this, the transmission unit 342 btransmits a session ID for game play back to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a in the second information processingapparatus 100 b. As described, regarding the participation of the userA, a procedure concerning the participation can be subjectivelyperformed by either one of the user A or the user B.

Described above is an example where the second information processingapparatus 100 b serves as a host so as to perform a participationprocedure of the user A. Alternatively, the server 5 may serve as a hostto perform the participation procedure of the user A. Also, it isexplained that a live video image of the user B is directly deliveredfrom the second information processing apparatus 100 b to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a. Alternatively, the live videoimage may be delivered from the second information processing apparatus100 b to the second information processing apparatus 100 a via theserver 5. Regarding a procedure for participation and a method fordistributing video images, techniques that are already publicly knownneed to be used. In the following, remote play and multiplayer play areexplained on the premise that the participation processing unit 340 a ofthe second information processing apparatus 100 a has allowed the user Ato join a game being played on a second information processing apparatus100.

In remote play, the user A does not possess car racing game software. Inremote play, operation information entered by the user A to the inputapparatus 120 is transmitted to the second information processingapparatus 100 b of the user B, and the second information processingapparatus 100 b reflects the operation information from the user A inthe processing of the game and transmits a game image, in which theoperation information is reflected, to the second information processingapparatus 100 a so that the game image is output from the displayapparatus 102 a.

When the user A operates the input apparatus 120, operation informationreceived by the input unit 312 a is transmitted as a packet to thesecond information processing apparatus 100 b from the transmission unit342 a along with the user A's network account and session ID. In thesecond information processing apparatus 100 b, the execution unit 324 bidentifies that the operation information has been transmitted from theuser A based on the user A's network account included in the packet andidentifies that the operation information is that of a car racing gamebased on the session ID included in the packet. With this, the executionunit 324 b progresses the game in accordance with the operationinformation from the user A. In other words, the execution unit 324 bneeds to perform processing of the game on the assumption that a player,i.e., the user A, has been added in the second information processingapparatus 100 b. The execution unit 324 b progresses the game inaccordance with operation information from the user A and operationinformation from the user B. The image data generation unit 344generates image data for the second information processing apparatus 100a of the user A, and the transmission unit 342 b transmits the imagedata to the second information processing apparatus 100 a. With this,the operation information from the user A is reflected in the progressof the game in the image data transmitted from the transmission unit 342b.

In the second information processing apparatus 100 a, the image dataacquisition unit 306 a acquires the image data, and the displayprocessing unit 326 a displays, using the image data, the image of gameplay in which the operation information from the user A has beenreflected. As described, remote play allows the user A to play the carracing game even when the car racing game software is not installed inthe second information processing apparatus 100 a of the user A.

In the remote play, a play video image of the same scene may bedisplayed on the display apparatus 102 a and the display apparatus 102b. As described previously, the resolution of image data displayed onthe display apparatus 102 a is lower than that of image data displayedon the display apparatus 102 b.

FIG. 23 shows a game image displayed on the display apparatus 102 a ofthe user A and on the display apparatus 102 b of the user B. Althoughthe resolution is different, a game image expressing the same scene maybe displayed in real time on the display apparatus 102 a and on thedisplay apparatus 102 b. The game image shown in FIG. 23 is separatedinto a game image 350 a in which operation information from the user Ais directly reflected and a game image 350 b in which operationinformation from the user B is directly reflected, and displayed.Operation information from the user B may be indirectly reflected in thegame image 350 a. Similarly, operation information from the user A maybe indirectly reflected in the game image 350 b.

The game image 350 a may be displayed on the display apparatus 102 a,and the game image 350 b may be displayed on the display apparatus 102b. In this case, in the second information processing apparatus 100 b,the execution unit 324 b generates a game image for the user A and agame image for the user B, the display processing unit 326 b displaysthe game image for the user B on the display apparatus 102 b, the imagedata generation unit 344 generates image data with a lowered resolutionfrom the game image for the user A, and the transmission unit 342 btransmits the image data to the second information processing apparatus100 a; in the second information processing apparatus 100 a, the displayprocessing unit 326 a displays the game image for the user A on thedisplay apparatus 102 a. In this manner, each user can view only a gameimage of his/her own. When a user wishes to view a game image of anotheruser as shown in FIG. 23, the user can switch the screen image bypressing a display switch button of his/her input apparatus 120.

In the above-described example, an example is shown where the user A andthe user B play the car racing game against each other. Different fromsuch a participation format, the participation processing unit 340 a canallow the user A to join the game instead of the user B. For example,there is a case where the user B puts the user A in charge of operatinga player character of the user B when there is an enemy character whichthe user B cannot defeat by any means in a fighting game. In this case,in the second information processing apparatus 100 b, the participationprocessing unit 340 b creates an invitation asking whether it ispossible to play the game instead of the user B, the transmission unit342 b then transmits the invitation to the second information processingapparatus 100 a, and the participation processing unit 340 a indicatesthat the user A can join when the user A accepts the invitation. By apredetermined operation performed by the user B on the input apparatus120, the execution unit 324 b performs processing of switching theplayer and executes the game software using operation information fromthe user A instead of operation information from the user B. Byperforming a predetermined operation on the input apparatus 120, theuser B can switch the player back to the user B from the user A.

When the user B searches for a substitute player, the participationprocessing unit 340 b may generate a request (referred to as a switchrequest) for searching for a user who will take over the game play forthe user B, and the transmission unit 342 b may transmits the request tothe server 5. (The following example is based on the assumption that theuser A and the user B are not friends. However, even when the two arefriends, there will be no problem.) The server 5 manages such switchrequest. For example, when the participation processing unit 340 a ofthe user A acquires a list of switch requests from the server 5 based onan instruction from the user A and selects a user B from the list, theparticipation processing unit 340 a performs participation processingwith a second information processing apparatus 100 b of the selecteduser. The name of the user A and the name of the user B may beundisclosed to each other at this time. A relationship between the userB who has generated a switch request and the user A (referred to as ahelper) who has accepted the switch request, as described, is stored inthe server 5. This allows one of the users to register the other user asa friend. It is preferred that a switch request contains play motionvideo that shows a game scene of interest. That way, the user candetermine whether the game scene, included in the play motion video, isa game scene which the user has played in the past by watching the playmotion video and comes forward as a helper when the user has anexperience of playing the game scene (or when the user is confident).

An explanation is now given of multiplayer play. In multiplayer play,the user A possesses car racing game software. Before the start of themultiplayer play, the display apparatus 102 a of the user A displays aplay video image of the user B as shown in FIG. 22. In the multiplayerplay, the user A also starts the car racing game software, and operationinformation that has been entered is exchanged between the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a of the user A and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b of the user B. As described, inthe multiplayer play, operation information from the user A andoperation information from the user B are processed in the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a and the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b, respectively, and then reflected in theprogress of the game in both sides. Transmission of a packet includingoperation information, the network account, and the session ID each bythe transmission units 342 a and 342 b allows the respective executionunits 324 a and 324 b to generate a game image in which operationinformation from both transmission units 342 a and 342 b are reflected.

The second information processing apparatus 100 a according to thepresent exemplary embodiment provides an interface that is preferred atthe time of starting multiplayer play. The second information processingapparatus 100 a of the user A autonomously transmits a participationrequest to the second information processing apparatus 100 b of the userB based on an operation input entered into the input apparatus 120 ofthe user A or transmits a participation request to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 b in response to an invitationtransmitted from the second information processing apparatus 100 b. Whenthe second information processing apparatus 100 b permits theparticipation in response to the participation request and transmits asession ID to the second information processing apparatus 100 a, theuser A can join the multiplayer play. The user A will start the game atthis time. It requires at least about several tens of seconds afterstarting the start-up of the game until the activation is completed sothat the game can be played.

When activating game software, a start-up screen image that is set inadvance in the game is usually displayed. If a game start-up screenimage is displayed on the full-screen of the display apparatus 102 awhen activating the game software after receiving permission for theparticipation from the user B, the user A has no choice but to waituntil the activation is completed. Thus, in the information processingsystem 1, a user interface is provided that allows the user A to spendtime for the activation of the game software without feeling bored.

More specifically, when the user A instructs the activation of the gamesoftware by operating the input apparatus 120 after it is determinedthat the user A is joining the game, the execution unit 324 a starts theactivation of the game software. Upon the determination of theparticipation, the execution unit 324 a may automatically start theactivation of the game software. While the execution unit 324 a isactivating the game software, the display processing unit 326 acontinues to display the image of the game play of the user B.Processing of activating the game software is performed in thebackground at this time, and the start-up screen image may not bedisplayed. With this, the user A can wait for the activation of the gamesoftware to be completed while viewing the play video image of the userB, and a user interface that prevents the user A from getting bored canbe realized. Until the activation of the game software is completed, thedisplay processing unit 326 a continues to display the image of the gameplay of the user B.

While the execution unit 324 a is activating the game software, thedisplay processing unit 326 a may enlarge the display size of the imageof the game play of the user B. More specifically, the displayprocessing unit 326 a displays a play image in a display size shown inFIG. 22 before the activation of the game software. By the time theactivation of the game software is completed, the display size becomeslarger covering the entire screen of the display apparatus 102 a, and aplay image of the user B is displayed in a mode such that the user A canseamlessly join the game upon the completion of the activation. When theplay image is displayed on the entire area of the display, a playercharacter of the user A may exist on the screen so that multiplayer playcan start from that moment. By allowing the user A to seamlessly jointhe game as described above, the user A can wait until the completion ofthe activation of the game software without getting bored.

Time required for the activation of the game software is set in advancein the game, and the display processing unit 326 a enlarges a play imagebased on the time. For example, if the set time is 30 seconds, the speedfor enlarging play motion video is adjusted such that a play image isdisplayed on the entire area of the display 30 seconds after the startof the activation of the game software. The display processing unit 326a may store in advance a measured value of the activation time from thepast and enlarge the play image based on the measured time.

When the user A possesses the car racing game, the user A can join ineither multiplayer play or remote play. The user A may join in eithermode at this time. When the user B extends an invitation, the user B maydetermine the participation mode.

In this regard, a high-quality image is provided in multiplayer play incomparison to remote play when focusing on the quality of an imagedisplayed on the display apparatus 102 a of the user A. Therefore, in acase where participation can be possible in either multiplayer play orremote play, participation may be approved only in multiplayer play. Ineither case, it is preferred that a participation request transmittedfrom the second information processing apparatus 100 a or an invitationtransmitted from the second information processing apparatus 100 bincludes information indicating a participation mode of the user A, andthe user B or the user A gives consideration based on the participationmode regarding whether or not the participation is to be accepted. Theuser B may determine whether multiplayer play is possible based on theactivity information of the user A. Alternatively, this determinationmay be performed by the participation processing unit 340 b.

An explanation is given regarding a case where a participation requestis transmitted from the second information processing apparatus 100 a.In the second information processing apparatus 100 a, the participationprocessing unit 340 a knows whether or not a game in which participationis requested is installed in the second information processing apparatus100 a. Therefore, the participation processing unit 340 a allows theuser A to select whether to request participation in remote play or torequest participation in multiplayer play and then requestsparticipation in a play mode that has been selected. Upon the receipt ofthis participation request, the display processing unit 326 b in thesecond information processing apparatus 100 b displays the details ofthe participation request on the display apparatus 102 b, and the user Bdetermines whether or not to permit the participation. For example, in acase where the user A requests participation in multiplayer play andwhere the user B permits the participation of the user A, the both willplay the game in multiplayer play. When the user B does not permitparticipation of the user A in multiplayer play but permitsparticipation in remote play, the participation processing unit 340 bcreates an invitation for inviting participation in remote play, and thetransmission unit 342 b transmits the invitation to the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 a at this time.

An explanation is given regarding a case where an invitation istransmitted from the second information processing apparatus 100 b. Theparticipation processing unit 340 b asks the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a whether or not the user possesses the game.When the server 5 manages the game installed in the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a, the participation processing unit 340 b mayacquire a list of games installed in the second information processingapparatus 100 a of the user A from the server 5 or makes an inquiry asto whether the game is installed. When the participation processing unit340 b recognizes that the game is installed in the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 a by this, the participation processing unit340 b allows the user B to select whether to invite the user A to joinin remote play or to invite the user A to join in multiplayer play andthen invites the user A for a play mode that has been selected. Upon thereceipt of this invitation, the display processing unit 326 a in thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a displays the details ofthe invitation on the display apparatus 102 a, and the user A determineswhether or not to join.

When the participation processing unit 340 b recognizes that the game isnot installed in the second information processing apparatus 100 a, theparticipation processing unit 340 b learns that the user A cannot joinin multiplayer play. Therefore, the participation processing unit 340 bchecks with the user B whether to invite the user A to join in remoteplay.

The participation processing unit 340 b may issue an invitation withoutperceiving games installed in the second information processingapparatus 100 a. For example, when the user B invites the user A to joinin multiplayer play, the participation processing unit 340 a in thesecond information processing apparatus 100 a creates a replayindicating that the user A does not possess the game when the user Adoes not possess the game, and the transmission unit 342 a transmits thereply to the second information processing apparatus 100 b. On the otherhand, when the user A possesses the game, the display processing unit326 a displays the details of the invitation on the display apparatus102 a. As described, the participation processing unit 340 a maydetermine whether or not the game for which an invitation has beenprovided is installed. Then, based on the result of the determination,the participation processing unit 340 a may determine whether to displaythe details of the invitation or reply to the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 b indicating that the user A cannot join in aspecified mode.

Explained above is an example where the user A joins in multiplayer playwith the approval of the host user B. In another example, multiplayerplay is suggested where the user A joins a game without obtaining theapproval of the host user B. Since the host user B does not know thatthe user A has joined the game, the host user B persistently progressesthe game as single-player play.

In the second information processing apparatus 100 b, the execution unit324 b executes the game software and allows the player character to movein a game space in accordance with operation information from the userB. In the second information processing apparatus 100 a, the executionunit 324 a executes the same game software and allows a game characterto move in the game space in accordance with operation information fromthe user A. The participation processing unit 340 a allows the gamecharacter operated by the user A to join in the game being played on thesecond information processing apparatus 100 b. The participation ishidden from the user B. Therefore, the game character of the user A willsecretly enter the game before the user B notices while the user B isplaying the game.

The user A can help or interrupt the player character of the user B. Acondition for evaluating the behavior of the game character of the userA is set in advance in the game. Evaluation conditions for the gamecharacter is set for at least two indicators. A first indicator is toevaluate play that is cooperative to the player character, and a secondindicator is to evaluate play that is uncooperative (interfering) to theplayer character. As described, the evaluation conditions are set forthe behavior of the game character towards the player character in thegame.

For example, defeating a predetermined number of enemies of the playercharacter, defeating a specific enemy by the game character, and thelike by the game character of the participant user A are set asevaluation conditions for the first indicator. On the other hand,hitting a predetermined number of attacks on the player character,giving damage of at least a predetermined point, preventing the playercharacter from obtaining an item, and the like by the game character ofthe participant user A are set as evaluation conditions for the secondindicator.

In the second information processing apparatus 100 a, when the behaviorof the game character of the user A satisfies the evaluation conditionsthat are set, the execution unit 324 a provides information foridentifying satisfied conditions (condition ID) to the transmission unit342 a, and the transmission unit 342 a transmits the condition ID to theserver 5 along with the user A's network account. Determination ofwhether the evaluation conditions are satisfied may be performed by theexecution unit 324 b in the second information processing apparatus 100b. In this case, the transmission unit 342 b transmits the condition IDto the server 5 along with the user A's network account.

FIG. 24 illustrates functional blocks of the server 5. A condition IDacquisition unit 232 receives the condition ID, and a profile generationunit 234 updates profile information of the user based on the type ofthe condition ID that has been received. A storage unit 236 stores atable mapping the condition ID to both the type of the condition ID anda level value. The type of the condition ID specifies whether thecondition ID is related to the first indicator or to the secondindicator. The level value is an increase in a level for playing. Forexample, if a condition ID received from a second information processingapparatus 100 is related to the first indicator, the profile generationunit 234 increases the accumulated level of the first indicator by theamount of the level value for the condition ID. As described, theprofile generation unit 234 increases the level value of the first orsecond indicator based on the condition ID that has been received,updates the profile information, and stores the increased level valueand the updated profile information in the storage unit 236.

The profile generation unit 234 may determine the level value inconsideration of the degree of proficiency in the game of the user B whohas been joined. For example, the degree of proficiency is determined inaccordance with a state of acquisition of a trophy or the like. Thereare various types of users who have been joined without the users'awareness; for example, there are those who are extremely proficient inthe game, and there are those who seldom play the game. If the user B isa highly-proficient player, an enemy character that is operated by theuser A and that has an unusual movement allows the user B to play thegame without getting bored, and the user B can thus have a newexperience. On the other hand, if the user B is a beginner, the user Awho is participating will play to support the player character of theuser B. The profile generation unit 234 may determine the amount of anincrease in the level of the user A based on the degree of proficiency(competence) of the user B. For example, the profile generation unit 234may directly apply a level value that is set in the table for the userA's play when the degree of proficiency of the user B is high. Theprofile generation unit 234 may use a value obtained by multiplying, bya number less than one, the level value that is set when the degree ofproficiency is low so as to update the profile information.

FIG. 25 is an example of profile information generated by the profilegeneration unit 234. The profile generation unit 234 sets a level valuethat corresponds to each indicator. According to the profileinformation, it is found that the user A has a strong tendency to playcooperatively. Therefore, it is possible for the server 5 to provide away to have fun that suits the user A's preference using this profileinformation such as recommending a game that the user A would likelyprefer and recommending multiplayer play with a user who has a similartendency in play.

Described above is an explanation of the present invention based on theembodiments. These embodiments are intended to be illustrative only, andit will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications to constituting elements and processes could be developedand that such modifications are also within the scope of the presentinvention.

In the exemplary embodiment, an explanation is given of the link button174 for acquiring acquisition page configuration data from the server 5.The exemplary embodiment shows that the link button 174 is displayed ina first information processing apparatus 10. Alternatively, the linkbutton 174 may be displayed in association with play motion video or alive video image in a second information processing apparatus 100.

When displaying another user's live video image or play motion video,the link button 174 may be displayed in association with the motionvideo and may be displayed at all time regardless of an operation fromthe user. In addition to being displayed as a link to acquisition pageconfiguration data, the link button 174 may be displayed as a variouskinds of button depending on the motion video.

In the second information processing apparatus 100, the displayprocessing unit 326 checks a relationship between play motion video(live video image) being displayed and the game of the motion video. Forexample, if the play motion video is a video image of the game Y, thedisplay processing unit 326 determines, in reference to a list of gamesthat have been downloaded or installed in the second informationprocessing apparatus 100, whether the game Y is included in the list ofthe downloaded games. If the game Y is not downloaded at this time, alink button 174 for making a purchase is displayed in connection withthe play motion video of the game Y.

On the other hand, if the game Y has been downloaded but has not beeninstalled, the display processing unit 326 displays a button forallowing the installation in association with the play motion video.With this, the user learns that the game Y has not been installed yetand recognizes that the game Y can be installed and played by pressingthe installation button. If the game Y has already been installed, thedisplay processing unit 326 displays a button for allowing the user toplay or a button for creating a schedule for playing against a friend inassociation with the play motion video. Pressing the play button willstart the game Y, and pressing the schedule button will allow a scheduleto be created for a match against a friend. As described, based on thestate of the game being displayed in the play motion video in the secondinformation processing apparatus 100, in other words, based on a stateof whether or not the game has already been downloaded and whether ornot the game has been already installed, the display processing unit 326displays a button for prompting the user for a next action inassociation with the play motion video.

In the exemplary embodiments, a storage area for save data in the secondinformation processing apparatus 100 is shown to be created in thememory unit 330. Alternatively, the save data may be stored in theserver 5 while being linked to the network account of the user. The savedata stored in the server 5 allows the user to access the save data fromboth the first information processing apparatus 10 and the secondinformation processing apparatus 100. Even in the case of game play in afriend's house, the user can use the save data stored in the server 5 bysigning in using the network account.

When starting the second information processing apparatus 100 for thefirst time, the user registers setting information such as the displayformat of a display, sound output, and the like in the secondinformation processing apparatus 100. This setting information may alsobe registered in the server 5. With this, in the case, e.g., where theuser purchases a new second information processing apparatus 100, laborof manual input can be saved by allowing the setting information to beread from the server 5 by the second information processing apparatus100.

The exemplary embodiments show that a user can join a game in a remoteplay or multiplayer mode. In a second information processing apparatus100, a participation processing unit 340 may have a function of findingwho is playing what games on the network and allowing the result thereofto be browsed. The participation processing unit 340 may search for agame session that is of a game installed in the second informationprocessing apparatus 100 and that is being run in a mode where the usercan join on the network and may display information specifying the gamesession that has been detected. This allows the user to be able to playthe game together with another user who is not registered as a friend.

Also, it is explained in the exemplary embodiments that when the server5 divides game software into a first file and a second file andtransmits the files, the installation processing unit 322 is capable ofperforming a process of installing the second file during the executionof the game software for the first file. This is not limited to thiscase. For example, it is preferred that the installation processing unit322 install download content in the memory unit 330 during the executionof game software by the execution unit 324 and that, after theinstallation, the execution unit 324 be able to use the installedcontent without ending the game software being executed.

Also, it is explained in the exemplary embodiments that the user is ableto play a game by selecting a predetermined item on a menu screen image.In the second information processing apparatus 100, a user interface(UI) for starting a game may be prepared separately so that the user canstart the game through the UI.

FIG. 26 illustrates an example of a UI for starting a game. The displayprocessing unit 326 displays the UI for starting a game on the displayapparatus 102. On the UI for starting a game, a title display area 400is provided where game icons are arranged in a line. Using the inputapparatus 120, the user can move the game icons arranged in a line tothe left or to the right. In the title display area 400, game icons of amaximum of a predetermined number (e.g., four) are arranged, and thearea displaying the second icon from the left of these icons is set tobe a focus area 410. In the figure, four icons for a game Y, a game X, agame Z, and a game A are arranged from the left, and an icon for thegame X is located in the focus area 410. If the user presses apredetermined determination button of the input apparatus 120 in thisstate, the game X is started.

The acquisition unit 300 acquires predetermined information from theserver 5 in regard to the game title located at the focus area 410. Theacquisition unit 300 acquires information identifying friends who areplaying the game X and image data of game play of one of the friends.The display processing unit 326 displays the information identifying thefriends who are playing the game X in friend display areas 402 a and 402b and displays a game video image of play being performed by one of thefriends in a play image display area 404. The display processing unit326 may display past Play history of the user in a game start-up historydisplay area 406.

As described, on the UI for starting a game, the display processing unit326 presents various types of information to the user in regard to agame for an icon located in the focus area 410. The type of informationto be displayed by the display processing unit 326 may be set for eachgame. More specifically, a file specifying the layout of a display areaother than the title display area 400 and a file for display including aresource file, and the like, that defines display objects are preparedfor each game. With reference to the file for display, the displayprocessing unit 326 arranges display objects customized for each game inthe display area other than the title display area 400.

By moving a game icon to the focus area 410, the user can easily learninformation on a corresponding game. The UI for starting a game shown inFIG. 26 is an example. For example, the title display area 400 may bedisplayed in the vertical direction on the screen so that game icons arescrolled in the vertical direction.

Game icons displayed in the title display area 400 are not limited tothose for games that are already installed. The game icons may be, forexample, those for games that are not yet downloaded. Even when a gameis not downloaded, the user can download a file for display of the game.Thus, the display processing unit 326 can arrange respective icon imagesof games that are not yet downloaded in the title display area 400. Forexample, the display processing unit 326 may display respective linkbuttons to purchase screen images of games in accordance with respectivefiles for display. The display processing unit 326 may also displayrespective motion videos introducing the games. As for the files fordisplay, both files for display used for games that are alreadyinstalled and files for display used for games yet to be installed maybe prepared. The display processing unit 326 has a function ofdetermining whether or not a game is already installed. If a gamearranged in the focus area 410 is already installed, the displayprocessing unit 326 arranges a display object in reference to a file fordisplay used when the game is already installed. On the other hand, if agame arranged in the focus area 410 is not yet installed, the displayprocessing unit 326 arranges a display object in reference to a file fordisplay used when the game is not yet installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 information processing system, 10 first information processing        apparatus, 100, 100 a, 100 b second information processing        apparatus, 102, 102 a, 102 b display apparatus, 120 input        apparatus, 174 link button, 176 purchase button, 200 acquisition        unit, 202 display processing unit, 204 reception unit, 206        request generation unit, 208 transmission unit, 220 request        reception unit, 222 transmission processing unit, 224 content        search unit, 230 retention unit, 232 condition ID acquisition        unit, 234 profile generation unit, 236 storage unit, 300        acquisition unit, 302 instruction acquisition unit, 304 content        acquisition unit, 306 image data acquisition unit, 308 operation        information acquisition unit, 310 activation control unit, 312        input unit, 320 processing unit, 322 installation processing        unit, 324 execution unit, 326 display processing unit, 330        memory unit, 332 icon image, 334 restriction mark, 340        participation processing unit, 342 transmission unit, 344 image        data generation unit, 350 a, 350 b game image

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be applied to a technical field of informationprocessing.

1. An information processing system in which a first informationprocessing apparatus operated by a first user and a second informationprocessing apparatus operated by a second user are connected via anetwork, wherein the first information processing apparatus comprises: afirst execution unit configured to execute game software based onoperation information from the first user; and a first transmission unitconfigured to transmit image data of a game being played by the firstuser and operation information from the first user to the secondinformation processing apparatus, wherein the second informationprocessing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit configured toacquire the image data; a display processing unit configured to displayan image of game play using the acquired image data; a participationprocessing unit configured to allow the second user to join, in a firstmode or a second mode, the game being played on the first informationprocessing apparatus; a second execution unit configured to execute gamesoftware; and a second transmission unit configured to transmitoperation information from the second user to the first informationprocessing apparatus, wherein, when the participation processing unitallows the second user to join the game being played on the firstinformation processing apparatus in the first mode, the first executionunit executes the game software based on the operation information fromthe second user, and the first transmission unit transmits image data inwhich the operation information from the second user is reflected in theprogress of the game to the second information processing apparatus, inthe first information processing apparatus, and the display processingunit displays, using the image data, the image of game play in which theoperation information from the second user is reflected in the secondinformation processing apparatus, and wherein, when the participationprocessing unit allows the second user to join the game being played onthe first information processing apparatus in the second mode, the firsttransmission unit transmits, in the first information processingapparatus, the operation information from the first user to the secondinformation processing apparatus, and the second execution unitexecutes, in the second information processing apparatus, the gamesoftware according to the operation information from the first user andthe operation information from the second user so as to generate animage of game play.
 2. The information processing system according toclaim 1, wherein, when the participation processing unit allows thesecond user to join the game being played on the first informationprocessing apparatus in the first mode, the participation processingunit allows the second user to join the game instead of the first user,and the first execution unit executes the game software using theoperation information from the second user instead of the operationinformation from the first user.
 3. The information processing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein, when the participation processing unitallows the second user to join the game being played on the firstinformation processing apparatus in the first mode, the firsttransmission unit transmits, in the first information processingapparatus, image data for the second user with image resolution madelower than that of image data for the first user to the secondinformation processing apparatus.
 4. The information processing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein, in the second information processingapparatus, the participation processing unit generates a participationrequest that requests participation in a mode selected by the seconduser from either the first mode or the second mode, and the secondtransmission unit transmits the generated participation request to thefirst information processing apparatus.
 5. The information processingsystem according to claim 1, wherein the first information processingapparatus further comprises a first participation processing unitconfigured to generate an invitation for inviting participation in amode selected by the first user from either the first mode or the secondmode, and the first transmission unit transmits the generated invitationto the second information processing apparatus.
 6. An informationprocessing apparatus operated by a user, comprising: an acquisition unitconfigured to acquire image data of a game being played on anotherinformation processing apparatus; a display processing unit configuredto display an image of game play using the acquired image data; aparticipation processing unit configured to allow the user to join, in afirst mode or a second mode, the game being played on the otherinformation processing apparatus; an execution unit configured toexecute game software; and a transmission unit configured to transmitoperation information from the user to the other information processingapparatus, wherein, when the participation processing unit allows theuser to join the game being played on the other information processingapparatus in the first mode, the acquisition unit acquires image data inwhich the transmitted operation information is reflected in the progressof the game, in the other information processing apparatus, and thedisplay processing unit displays, using the image data, an image of gameplay in which the operation information is reflected, and wherein, whenthe participation processing unit allows the user to join the game beingplayed on the other information processing apparatus in the second mode,the execution unit executes the game software according to the operationinformation from the user and operation information from another user inthe other information processing apparatus so as to generate an image ofgame play.
 7. A computer program embedded on a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium, comprising: a module configured toacquire image data of a game being played on another computer; a moduleconfigured to display an image of game play using the acquired imagedata; a module configured to allow a user to join, in a first mode or asecond mode, the game being played on the other computer; a moduleconfigured to execute game software; and a module configured to transmitoperation information from the user to the other computer, wherein, whenthe user is allowed to join the game being played on the other computerin the first mode, the module configured to acquire image data includesa submodule configured to acquire image data in which the transmittedoperation information is reflected in the progress of the game in theother computer, and the module configured to display an image of gameplay includes a submodule configured to display, using the image data,an image of game play in which the operation information is reflected,and wherein, when the user is allowed to join the game being played onthe other computer in the second mode, the module configured to executegame software includes a submodule configured to execute the gamesoftware according to the operation information from the user andoperation information from another user in the other computer and togenerate an image of game play.
 8. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium having embodied thereon the program according to claim7.